Steve Roach – Light Fantastic

Oddly having been a fan of Steve Roach since my discovery of Structures on cassette back in the late 80s I have to say this particular release like Dust to Dust is a not only brilliant album but I feel slightly underrated by most. Reviews or opinions as always are very subjective and so with that in mind LF is well, a fantastic release. There moments on this album reminiscent of 's Monolake ie Robert Heinke angular juxtaposition of electronic pulse and percussion against the deep reverberated soundscapes Roach has become synonymous for. The added collaboration of Vir Unis adds more depth and rhythmic nuances to he composition and is what makes this particular release a standout in Steve's long and deep catalog of releases. As a long time fan of much not all of his music I've always enjoyed when Steve invites fellow musical journeymen into his fold or at the least takes a leap of faith as in Dust to Dust to venture out of his usual musical confines. This is a classic in this listeners collection along with the much ired early works in Steve's decades long musical output.

STEVE ROACH: Light Fantastic CD
One of the most prolific and consistent electronic musicians of the '90's but also one of the most misjudged. Mention his name and most people think of sprawling cosmic epics at one end of the spectrum, and ultra-fast sequencers in the middle, with ethnic at the other end. ittedly, there have been a few 'extreme' releases i9n the pipeline, but there are also some timeless gems such as "Structures From Silence", "Western Spaces" collaboration, "On This Planet" and "Desert Heat" to name but four, not to mention recent collaborations that are equally amazing and production duties that bring out the best in that artist.
This is another classic album. Throughout its six tracks and 58 minutes, you'll find the whole Roach musical arsenal - drums, samples, sequencers in the rhythm dept, and cosmic, full-flowing, real space synth layers on top. The sheer spectacle of the streaming synth textures on top of the crystal clear yet crisp and solid multi-layered, mostly (electro) percussive rhythm base, is a complete delight. There are vast aeons of spacious rhythmic and real space textures that cast shafts of light in all directions, with the sum of the parts being a whole that is totally mind-blowing. Featuring contributions from Obmana and Unis, this is music that has all the right ingredients from the booming dynamics welling up from below to the gorgeous high-flying synth clouds that overhead. With its infinitely vast textural range, the mood is one of darkness and beauty at the same time. A classic album of synths and drums for those that don't want it too intense, want plenty happening but want it to flow to superbly dramatic effect - music in which to submerge yourself.