Halcyon Days
by Alan E. Rapp, Wired
January 1997
With synth-washed pieces and a fealty to ancient native traditions, the prolific Roach teams with Trance Mission members Newby and Kent to realize the didgeridoo. Kent is a master of the aboriginal dronepipe, and Newby's drums and flutes add global color. Roach's space-attuned electronica works especially well here, alternately invoking Tangerine Dream and suggesting the restless hibernation of giant beasts. The didge's recent abust in techno-ambient farragoes is distressing, but HALDYON DAYS rescues it from dance-floor stupefaction.
by Alan E. Rapp, Wired
January 1997
With synth-washed pieces and a fealty to ancient native traditions, the prolific Roach teams with Trance Mission members Newby and Kent to realize the didgeridoo. Kent is a master of the aboriginal dronepipe, and Newby's drums and flutes add global color. Roach's space-attuned electronica works especially well here, alternately invoking Tangerine Dream and suggesting the restless hibernation of giant beasts. The didge's recent abust in techno-ambient farragoes is distressing, but HALDYON DAYS rescues it from dance-floor stupefaction.
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Steve Roach, Stephen Kent, Kenneth Newby 1996 Hearts of Space 11072 (CD, Poster) Reviewed by Alternate Music Press, Asterism, Muze, Wired Steve joins in on a spirited super-session with didgeridoo master Stephen Kent and Indonesian and electron wizard Kenneth Newby. Created during the HALCYON DAYS of winter 1995, this recording can be compared to the Suspended Memories sessions, where the magic of the moment is sought after and captured on tape during the extensive 10-day marathon session in which the music was created. Kent and Newby of Trance Mission and Lights in a Fat City have played together for years. A visit to the Timeroom for the collaboration with Steve presented a unique chapter in their mutual pursuit of empowered music for the "Archaic Revival".
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