Lammergeyer Borders & Barrens Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband   Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'The Blue Path')

Anthony Paul Kerby, the man behind Lammergeyer and The Circular Ruins, is, I think, one of the most interesting and consistent musicians working in the area of contemporary ambient music today. The CD is inspired by natural landscapes and should evoke "mysterious solitude".

A 'pure' drone and filtered white noise suggest a quite beach, this is 'Where the sea ends'. Choral pads add a serene quality to the sonic landscape. Sporadic, spare droplets of melody fleetingly move through the mix. Sounds gradually mutate, some elements becoming more symphonic, but the changes are subtle. A haunting, beautiful melody and distant vocal effects forge a focus for the track. Stunning. We merge into 'Leaving the dark earth' with shimmering drones and faint, symphonic sounds, the latter providing the merest suggestion of a melody. Subtlety is clearly the 'watchword' for this CD. A synthetic woodwind or reed-type melody builds and is supported by bells.

'The blue path' contains one of Kerby's equisite leads; subtle and haunting in equal measure and played on a gloriously retro analogue synth type- sound. Drones and a very laid-back sequence support it for a moment before the track enters a very abstract section at the 3.30 minute mark. Slowly we return to a subtle drones and symphonic sounds, but a darker atmosphere. Pulsing drones, a slow melody and faint 'tinkles' open 'Promise'. A slightly menacing synth sound melody adds an unsettled feel to the piece, like a disembodied spirit searching for solace or rest. This was a very evocative piece.

The slightly unsettled atmosphere is continued with 'Rainflower' – again drones and a subtle melody are the focus of the track, although treated vocal samples are also deployed. 'Genesis' is altogether darker, with sinister drones and synth effects. 'We all fall down' is strangely uplifting in feel, though with a melancholia running through it. We get vast melodic pads and faint vocal samples. A vaguely 'pipe' sounding melody can be heard at times, before a brassy lead 'scorches' the edges of the mix – the melodic quality is very high. This is a stand out track I feel.

'In praise of darkness' is not the sinister track I expected. After a very subtle opener a beautiful melody emerges played on guitar – and it's all over far too quickly! Shame! 'Absence' is another very short but evocative piece. Again drones and 'picked' melodies are the focus. 'Everything that lives' is VERY short and consists of a melody and dark, symphonic pads. It sounded like the intro to a Jarre epic believe it or not! 'Night flight' is a very symphonic mood piece with massed string pads, choirs and effects. An expressive melody and arpeggios are the rather unexpected opening combo for 'Gyroscope'. The track really highlights the deft touch Kerby has for melody.