•
Rating:
"Dreamtime Return": A Journey into the Heart of Myth and Nature
In the vast and silent realm of ambient music, few albums have reached the evocative depth and emotional power of Steve Roach's "Dreamtime Return." Released in 1988, this sonic masterpiece is not just an album but an auditory pilgrimage through time and space, an invitation to immerse oneself in the mysterious landscape of the Aboriginal Dreamtime.
The Genesis of Sound
From the very first notes of "Towards the Dream," Roach welcomes us into a world suspended between the real and the unreal, where the boundaries between mythological past and present vanish. The track opens with delicate reverberations and electronic pulsations that seem to echo through boundless canyons and ancestral lands. It is a call to awakening, an invitation to leave behind the frenzy of the modern world to embrace the primordial wisdom of the Earth.
An Aural Tapestry of Wonders
As the album unfolds, Roach weaves an aural tapestry of wonders. "The Continent" takes us into the heart of unspoiled nature, where the sounds of traditional Aboriginal instruments harmoniously blend with electronic textures, creating a dialogue between past and future. It is like walking through a rainforest at twilight, with each sound telling an ancient and profound story.
Metaphysics and Melody
One of the most intense moments of the first disc is "The Other Side." This metaphysical masterpiece combines languid new-age esque electronic melodies with colossal string instruments and a cosmic extraterrestrial atmosphere. The enchanting effect recalls Constance Demby's best neoclassical space settings. The piece creates a breathtaking counterpoint, suspended between ethereal beauty and cosmic vastness.
A Sonic Ritual
"Magnificent Gallery" continues the melodic motif of "A Circular Ceremony" with floating cosmic hisses and deep choral notes. This track is a sonic journey that evokes images of ancient rituals and sacred ceremonies, with a background oscillating between the mystical and the solemn.
The Dusk of Dreamtime
The last two tracks of the first disc represent the end of Dreamtime. "Truth in Passing" is the beginning of the end, a divine revelation that the world as they know it is about to end through relentless waves of drought and famine. The bleak and melancholic piano plays in tremendous harmony with softly ascending synthesizer tones that conceal an existential and primordial anguish. Finally, "Australian Dawn - The Quiet Earth Cries Inside" is the acceptance of the end of times. The gentle rain clouds of "Truth in Passing" have disappeared, giving way to desolate soundscapes that echo the sounds of crying and suffering of Aboriginal ancestors.
A New Odyssey
The second disc begins with "Looking For Safety," one of the masterpieces of all ambient music. It is over half an hour of slowly evolving melodic figures that float in the realm of the metaphysical. It is nothing short of breathtaking; a psychodrama of impending tragedy and uncertainty that permeates the entire music. The second half of the track slowly dissolves into a painful cosmic mantra where the unconscious fears of Australian Aboriginals take root in the physical world, manifesting a new dimension of the human soul: that of dreams and the incorporeal.
The Essence of Tribal Cultures
"Through a Strong Eye" and "The Ancient Day" excel in portraying the darker aspects of primitive tribal cultures. The fear of death is omnipresent in the atmosphere of the first track, sonically represented through a spectral electronic howl and an atmosphere of wind. The second is a rhythmic crescendo that recalls the past of the Aboriginals and the concept of Dreamtime.
Sonic Transhumance
"Red Twilight With the Old Ones" features rather skeletal electronics crossed with the album's only discernible vocalizations, fueled by distortions and electronic effects that transform what was once human into something cryptic and alien. It is perhaps the most polarizing moment of the entire album, a sonic experience that challenges the listener to confront the unknown.
The Circle Closes
Finally, the album closes the circle with "The Return." A vortex of synthesizers infuses new life into an uncertain future. This track represents a new beginning, a rebirth emerging from the ashes of the past. It is an ending that seals the album with a sense of hope and continuity, leaving the listener with a feeling of completion and renewal.
"Dreamtime Return" is much more than just an album; it is a timeless vision that transports the listener on an inner and outer journey. Steve Roach, with his mastery in creating rich and immersive soundscapes, offers us a work that transcends genres and eras. Each listening reveals new layers of meaning, new shades of emotion.
In an era where noise and distraction dominate, "Dreamtime Return" is a balm for the soul, a call to calm and reflection. It is an invitation to reconnect with the deep roots of our existence, to rediscover the sacred in the everyday. With this album, Steve Roach has created an eternal masterpiece, a beacon of light in the vast ocean of ambient music.
4o
Loading comments slowly
