Dino Pacifici: Hallowed Ground Dino Pacifici: Hallowed Ground (Dance Plant - 1999) For more than 20 years, Canadian Dino Pacifici has been making pop, dance, jazz, new age and electronic sounds. With his latest release, he's taking bold strides onto the Hallowed Ground of the more shapelessly experimental. He expands his audiovisions into more appreciably ambient territories, with neo-tribal overtones. The placid ebb and flow of beautiful Solace (22:45) envelops the listener with long, cushy ribbons of sound; rising, falling and slowly circling on several layers, lush tones hover over a distant bed of metallic clatter in this prolonged exposure to serenity. A light tribal beat lays down a mellow rhythm through 17-minute-plus Timeshift, where resounding tones recur amid waves of electrodrift. Passages subtly cross and recross a line between shadow and light. More active (though still relatively subdued) percussion unsettles the digital dust upon Hallowed Ground. Sweet drones sweep across this magical region, occasionally punctuated by organic effects, to be replaced by hypnotic keyboard patterns. Distorted radio waves faintly course through the expansively thrumming aura of Warp; rhythmic effects stir and trickling notes cascade within this celestial trip through a muted electron storm. Faraway flutesounds trill as electronic breezes stir crystalline particles during a regrettably brief visit to The Ice Fields of Neptune (5:05). Smooth synth pads dance to lively ethno-style beats in Cave Dweller. Vocal-like interjections sporadically chant along. While I may not haven wholeheartedly gotten into Dino Pacifici's 1998 electronic/new age release, Acquiescent Resonance, I can definitely appreciate this venture onto Hallowed Ground. Never straying into truly dangerous territories, this pathway does lead into some 8.4 worlds of ambient wonder (with some faux-tribal touches). Take a moment to visit Dee's nifty website where you can see, hear and learn more. This review posted February 23, 2000 AmbiEntrance © 2000-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).