All of a sudden it appears there are lots of good spacemusic and ambient
electronic releases this year, after what had appeared to be a slow
start. We don't get everything there is to hear out here at KKUP in
California, but of those I know, these are the best new ones:

Kevin Kendle: Deep Skies 2: Lagoon of Eternity. This is a paragon of
what spacemusic should be. It is also good healing music. It is
imaginative, experiential, trancelike, sensuous. It is not at all
overproduced (very elegant), but also not stark and dark. Just the right
balance.

Thom Brennan: Silver. I mentioned this one before. It may be the best of
the year, but so might the Kevin Kendle or other contenders. This one is
rich in experience to the max. Very gentle and inspirational.

Robert Carty: Oceanic Space. Of course Carty has one of these great new
albums. Carty's work always stands out as being the most emotionally
engaging; and his music has a more edgy or powerful sound. The early
tracks are somewhat marred by the "ping ping ping" sounds that I wish he
would put behind him. Despite this, every track is well crafted with a
jewel-like radiance, and the later tracks are the best; except the last
track which is just some ocean sounds.

Robert Rich: Echo of Small Things. Robert aims for a more subtle sound
here and achieves it. Superbly crafted, and moving in a quiet way.

Chris Bocast: Through the Airlock. This one is a real find. Very radiant
and expansive spacemusic of the most vintage kind. Some wonderful themes
and sounds.

Robert Fripp and Brian Eno: The Equatorial Stars. These well-respected
pioneers of the genre have now created an album to rank at least as good
as their earlier classics. The guitar sounds are amazingly well done.

Between Interval: Secret Observatory. This work contains 4 long tracks;
the essence of absorbing, trance-like spacemusic journeys. Take a peek
through this album into deep vistas!

Numina: Eye of the Nautilus. Another great album from Jesse Sola. This
one is perhaps even more emotionally-moving than his others; almost like
Robert Carty. And his sounds are superply crafted, to my ears.

Robert Scott Thompson: At the Still Point of the Turning World. This one
is subtle, quiet and modestly scored. It is a gem of originality from
what I can hear so far. It should be a good one for those seeking to
find a still point within.

William Edge: Beyond the Edge Into Infinity. The third of a trilogy, and
the best of them, this CD is good from start to finish, with a variety
of experiences that are exotic, spacey, original, and inspiring.

In the world fusion realm, for those who are not familiar with The Seven
Valleys by Stellamara (an SF area-based group), and Immortal Memory by
Patrick Cassidy and Lisa Gerrard, I highly recommend these. The Seven
Valleys has an amazingly exotic sound. Immortal Memory is like an
ambient opera or solo oratorio, with Lisa's amazing voice and Cassidy's
slow monumental music touching the soul. The latter disc is an early
2004 release. Some of us spacemusic fans might not have encountered
these works, but they are well worth seeking out.

That's quite a crop indeed for a year that started out so slow.
Spacemusic lives, and great artists continue to create it. I just wish
there were a lot more sensitive ears around to appreciate and support
it.

Eric M.
http://www.kkup.com/ericm.html