Long Night

This album cover might just be the key to where this music is supposed to take you. Like other edgy things, you need to be in the right frame of mind to listen and enjoy this heady brew. I happed to like it especially when compared to the other albums I've enjoyed by Mr. Roach. I find most of it extremely fascinating. As a musician myself, and someone who experimented with electronic music very very early on making my own pc boards, I very much appreciate what he's accomplished here. This album I listen to for the details unlike the others. This album is more technical for me than emotional. In any event, it's very successful and it's just intriguing to listen to and detect all the myriad of tones that make up the mantel of sound.

Not bad stuff from Roach and Kelly here. See my individual track comments. Overall I like but thought some of the tracks were a bit cluttered with extra sounds. Some of the droning parts are good and remind me of some of the work of the band Dome. If you are like me and looking for music to help with meditation this one is close but not a perfect fit. I could see if I was already in a semi trance state this would be good but for helping get to that state (let alone feeling calm) it seems to just miss the target. Loscil and He Said Omala or Pete Namlook are better in that area. Roach and company are definitely good but often add more sounds then are needed.The Long Night: Normally I dont like the glassy higher toned synths but they work well here. They sound like shimmering stars very visible in a place far from city lights. Clearly the name of the song has influenced me to think of night time but it is appealing. Good track as it has a positive vibe to it. Like the stars are trying to say something universal and reassuring. Some ambient can get gloomy but not this track. As mentioned it may not help put me in a meditative state but it does calm me down during a busy work day. probably not good for driving a car but good for background in tense situations (work, etc). Puts things in perspective. Goes on for close to 15 min but worth it. lots of sounds but they work together well. fades out slow and nicely . Calm World: starts with nice deep drones like echos in underground cave or chants of some kind. then slowly w swirling drone with higher pitched ringing synth ringing but slightly muted. by about the 5 minute mark get lots of droning/wailing sounds with almost sub frequency clanks and clunks. (this is similar to season of nights). but then (argh) by six minute mark in come the glassy sleepy synths. not my taste at all and Roach over uses these on all his stuff. At least there are some background accompanying synth sounds of a lower frequency. But in my opinion these shimmering glassy synths should be used sparingly and mostly to offset the lower frequencies here and there. For the foreground they do nothing for me.The Deep Hours: despite a bit eerie and dramatic start, this one is my favorite for this record. By about 30 seconds, a slowly waving drone is accompanied by a flute like sound. Normally i dont like flutes but this one is very good as it repeats a basic set of notes like a chant. It sounds very isolated and lonely but confident. after a while slow lazy percussion sounds are added. The drums and flute work great together in a near trance inducing repetition of sound. Tribal, spacey and definitely cool. Only thing is that at the 9 minute mark they dissolve out and its just the usual hodge podge roach soundscape that is over done and would have been better if he had faded it out at that point. but no. They prefer to give lots of wacky echoing sounds (including slow cymbal crash thing that reverberates indefinitely ). Sometimes I dont think these folks edit their music or even go back to listen and see what could be removed to make it much better.Season of Nights: starts out with slithering synths and flutes. Conjures up for me any ways a sci fi ish atmosphere. Planet earth traveling through space with the night sky visible. moves into a second part with a nicely captivating low frequency hum with wisps of synth sounds over it. the hum increases or descreases in volume. its the best part so far of this. some of the other sounds are unnecessary embellishments and makes it kind of cluttered. by the six minute mark some new sounds venture in. far away low frequency percussions and wailing sounds like a large ship or a creature chanting in a deep tone. once more silly smooth synths sounds are on top of this . they sound like the water moving aside for the large h ship. Good thing is they concentrate now on the wailing sounds and the groaning machine like percussion sounds not bad except for the synth and flutes at the start.Last night: hovering mid range humming synth sounds undulating slowly. other sounds come and go. Like the other tracks suffers here from clutter and too much going on. some of the basic sounds would work fine. No real need for the guest appearances of the softly sweeping ghost like synths (or at least much less). song is calming but a bit dreary too. Reminds me of the effects of cold medicine. but some of low pitch sounds are decent enough. By the 8 minute mark i have started to really like the hum in the background. Just some of the other synths are annoying and a bit depressing.

Roach is the King of Ambient, either solo or with one of his many collaborators. This album, as always!, let's you drift and dream in a soothing music space. Goodbye stress!!!

I want more music from these two. Amazing "first" CD. Kelly adds things to Roach music that takes it to a whole new level. Long Night 2...? I can only hope!

Long awaited collaboration between iconic Steve Roach and in Colorado based capable kindred spirit Kelly David, who is responsible for two remarkable, highly adventurous albums "Broken Voyage" (2002) and "Angkor" (2006), was released during January 2014. The album's title as well as its awesome cover image by Stan Yeatts clearly reveal what to expect from this journey through nocturnal magic.Comprised of 5 tracks, each clocking between 10-plus and 14-plus minutes, the album reveals with "Last Light". This serenely embracing composition glides through mysteriously undulating passages, hauntingly enhanced by various, richly detailed dissonant subtleties, while warmer expansive drone layers slowly sneak in, massively billow and guard above with all its grandiose beauty. These shadowy zones are essentially comforting and contemplative!!! "Season Of Nights" is immediately intensified by whistling infusions, but soon the monumental drone announces its domination, while glimmering modulations join the fore as well and continuously interact throughout with manifold volume. Splendidly immersing, and trickily disturbing too!!! Transition to the next piece, "The Deep Hours", is masterfully spiced by various rumbles, clicks, all luxuriantly biotic and wrapped by underground grotto echoes, while cicadas excel with chirping noises. Serenely weaving wide-screen atmozones shortly invade, tranquilly expand and precisely evoke brooding voice-like sounds. Lazy tribal groove permeates quietly through fascinating nightly scenery, which is fully unfolded in all its blissful grace and serenity. This is nothing but pure moonlit magnificence delivered by two virtuoso composers!!! The journey continues with "Calm World" when deep drone hums invade, joined by distant rumbles, while spiraling dissonances deliver their mindscaping force before completely fading away. Then monolithic drifts take the lead and briskly amalgamate with remaining remote noises, but soon they dissolve into various disruptive, but tranquilly captivating layers, which graciously waft throughout and safely land into spellbinding stillness. 14-minute closing title track, "The Long Night" sharply dives into calm blankets with its colossally expansive meanders, cascades and climaxes. There are absolutely marvelous chameleonic transitions between breathtakingly gigantic passages and decreasing panoramic quietude. Toward the end vague euphoric sequences awake and cruise on the night skies. A sonic transmutation at its finest!!!"The Long Night" was released 13 months after "Tales From The Ultra Tribe", a Hall of Fame collaboration of Steve Roach with Byron Metcalf. Yes, we certainly have here immensely triumphant fellowship as "The Long Night" is another stunningly transporting collaborative effort starring Steve Roach, who splits this performance extraordinaire with gifted veteran soundsculptor Kelly David. A man, who really deserves this glory, because his solo works "Broken Voyage" and "Angkor" undeservedly remain as well hidden treasures. Please, try to change this!!! Bravo, gentlemen!!!Richard Gürtler (Jul 06, 2014, Bratislava, Slovakia)

There's nothing there in the dark that's not there in the light. Or...........is *there*? Recall when you were a youngster awakened on a dark & stormy night by the wind. You lay there huddled beneath your covers hoping it was just the wind making all those ominous noises outside (and some seemed "inside") and not the Boogie Man trying to get into your room. You could see the tree branches moving back & forth in the wind adding to the spookiness of the whole scene."Long Night" will take you back to that time. Highly recommended. And, welcome back, Mr. Roach from the land of dull, drone music!