Richard Gürtler
The music speaks for itself, you must fully experience "Meltstream", because otherwise you will miss one of the most glorious dronescaping adventures released in last few years. Steve Brand did it again, but that's nothing surprising anymore and for Roy Mattson this turned as a really great introductory performance. "The Great Hoop" was one of the ultimate sonic jewels of 2013 and now, "Meltstream" is heading for the same title in 2014!!! Hats off to Steve & Roy!!!
Berkdrums
Absolutely one of my Steve Brand-favs! I think it's a masterpiece and because of it's perfect blend that consists of immersive dreamy soundpads, mixed with hazy dronescapes, shakers, flutes and fieldrecordings, I really think this album is a must-have for every ambient-aficionado... I know what I'm saying here but I really mean this. Also one of the perfect collaboration-albums that I know of. Please pick this one up, you'll be rewarded with such a jewel of an album... and if you're a CD-collector/aficionado like me: the physical version is a beauty! Hats off to Steve and Roy!
Favorite track: Just Above Treeline.
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A real gem by the brook so to speak. Don't hesitate to pick this one up! A finely crafted environ-ambience to lose one’s self in. A beautiful work.
Tracks:
My Shadow And The Morning Sun | 9:56
Just Above Treeline | 13:21
Leeward Shadows | 16:46
Meltstream | 14:04
Unlost (strange light and firefly stars) | 13:05
Meltstream really began in 2007 when Steve and Roy first met at Steve Roach's Soundcurrent Masters Workshop in Sonoita, Arizona. During the week long workshop, the group would improvise over the music of one of the artists present with Roach doing the live mixing. Steve says, "Some of the most personally satisfying and compelling moments for me, were when Roy and I would combine sensibilities. There was a richness and depth there that I wanted to re-create, hear and experience over and over.” In 2013, Roy sent Steve a handful of sounds (guitar and keyboard loops and sketches) that Steve then wove together with his own keyboard textures, field recordings, shakers, sandstone, whistles, voice, etc.
Some titles were inspired by a dream that Roy related to Steve ("strange lights and firefly stars"), another was inspired by a photo that Roy took at the workshop in Sonoita ("My Shadow And The Morning Sun"), and others organically grew out of creating the arrangements. Roy and Steve both have a strong affinity with nature, especially the mountains, and this music grew out of those moments, immersed in nature...and sound.
According to Steve: “As I was creating the pieces with my sounds and Roy's, the title 'Meltstream' came to mind, along with images of a past visit from Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado one June. While we where winding our way from the bottom to the top of the park, we saw multiple streams of water falling and running from the melting snow and ice on the peaks above, down to the green lowlands. I've learned not to question these moments of inspiration, but I couldn't help wondering what the significance of these images were. As I was creating these tracks, I began to realize that I felt that these sounds, these images, these words all were in perfect sync with this time in my life where once locked up, seemingly inaccessible, frozen resources are finally freeing, flowing and enriching everything they meet...a great soundtrack for a time of freedom and expansion!”
The sounds at the end of “My Shadow…” were created with sandstone collected in Sonoita by Brand and Roach in 2007, and the bird sounds at the end of “My Shadow…” were created with a bird whistle given to Brand by Mattson just after the workshop.
Thanks to Roy Mattson and to Steve Roach...this album would not be possible if Roy and I had not met in Sonoita that September in 2007.
credits
released May 30, 2014
Roy Mattson, guitars and keyboards. Steve Brand, compositions, keyboards, shakers, whistles, field recordings.
Steve Brand originally recorded and released in the experimental genre under the name “Augur,” with more than 20 limited
edition releases on independent labels. In 2003, Steve began creating in the “ambient” genre under his own name. He has issued more than 40 self-released disks, as well as a number of solo and collaborative releases on AtmoWorks, Hypnos, Relaxed Machinery, txt and Databloem. ...more
A truly haunting soundworld. Each track builds upon the previous one and ushers the heart-mind through various realms, states, and times.
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