Steve Roach: Structures from Silence Steve Roach: Structures from Silence (Projekt - 2001) More than 15 years have passed since Steve Roach first created Structures from Silence, fueled by deep immersions in the musical process, meditative quietness and Blue Pearl-Classic Champa incense. This rerelease provides living, breathing proof that simple beauty can stand the tests of time... and these pieces do breathe. Gradually seeping in from nothingness, sparkling crystalline notes are set adrift on the fluid sheets of Reflections in Suspension; the semi-tuneful series of twinkles are lovely against the shapeshifting backdrop. Hovering synthstrands slowly intertwine their thrumming warmth around Quiet Friend (13:23); slightly higher and slightly lower registers undulate at their own paces even while spiraling together. After nine lulling minutes faint notes begin to mutedly blink into a glimmering expanse. Glowing, variously-layered patterns of gentle ebb-and-flow wash through the extended panorama of amorphous Structures from Silence (28:33) like vast tonal in- and exhalations. The package redesign is much more appropriate than the clunky, dated art of the Fortuna original. Steve Roach achieved a delicate balance of activity and stillness with synthesizer sounds, all very "straight" by today's computer-processed standards, but gorgeous in their stunning simplicity. To the less-attuned listener, Structures from Silence may seem to not be "doing" much, but for the pure ambient floatationist, 9.3 worlds of wonder will open (again, or for the first time). Thanks to Projekt for a most worthy re-release, and thanks of course to Steve Roach. This review posted July 31, 2001 AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).