CHASING THE DAWN (78'08") is a compilation of various artists
in electronic sound who help define the Ultima Thule radio
program. Making up this anthology are thirteen tracks, donated
by as many artists, of original Ambient soundscapes. This music
represents that which may be found on a typical broadcast of
Ultima Thule, which presents recordings from the Atmospheric,
Ethno-Ambient and Spacemusic genres. The cast of CHASING
THE DAWN is an interesting representation of contemporary
innovative composers, and their meticulously crafted sound
designs should still even the most active of today's constantly
moving minds. Tim Story opens the album with "Otherize" which
references his more peculiar collaborative work and crossfades
into "Salila", a meandering and amorphous piece by Matt Borghi.
The wandering crystalline melodies of "Drawn from Sleep" by
Delicate Systems is followed by fellow Australian Amongst
Myselves who provides "Distant Horizons", a soft and warm
multi-layered impressionistic composition of drifting beauty.
Robert Rich and his piece "Qatifan" lead the mood to a
subterranean cavern of tuned stalactites, reverberant choir and
distant flute. Exiting into the jungle-covered ruins of Kelly David's
"Temple of Dawn", the tone turns toward the remote power spot
of his inspiration. With cool textures and ambience Jeff Greinke
offers "5000 Falling Souls", and something from his gentler side
in a somber work of beautiful harmonies and elegant timbres.
On "Falling Water" Thom Brennan seeks to create music with an
emphasis on his relationship with the forces of the natural world.
Robert Scott Thompson finds old and new truths in his artfully
woven Eno-inspired sonic meditation "Ascent". On "The Way
Beyond" Jim Cole adds to the already diverse line-up with the
shifting layers and ceremonial feel of sustained overtone
singing. Working with the sounds of night on "Between States" is
Dan Barrio, whose spare guitar loops and deep synth drones
seem the perfect companion in sleep. The resonant melodies of
Steve Roach's "Approaching Kata Tjuta" hide in huge vaporous
spheres of sound while, at this collection's conclusion, "Red
Stone, Black Sky" by Numina provides the listener with a
wondrous sonic sanctuary in which to reflect upon their own
inner workings; as is the goal of CHASING THE DAWN and its
on-air parent radio show Ultima Thule.

Tune in to STAR'S END this weekend for music from CHASING
THE DAWN

For more on CHASING THE DAWN, please access:
http://www.ultimathule.info

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STAR'S END broadcasts every Saturday night/Sunday morning
from 1am-6am (EDST) on:

88.5fm WXPN Philadelphia, PA
88.1fm WXPH Harrisburg, PA
90.5fm Worton/Baltimore, MD
104.9fm Allentown, PA

and live on the web...

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Chuck van Zyl
Host of STAR'S END Ambient Radio
http://www.starsend.org