Vir Unis
The Drift Inside
The ambient music I like best is the kind that just floats by, washing over you as it moves along effortlessly. 'The Drift Inside' is so effortless, so smooth, that it seem to pass by in an instant, or to last forever, I'm not sure which. Not too dark, but with deep, rich sounds and brilliant bright high end tones, this is first-rate ambience. Unlike much ambient music which prefers to develop very slowly, none of the track lengths on 'The Drift Inside' approach double digits. The 12 tracks flow seamlessly together as a single piece of music, but within each track there is a unique character to the long, streaming sound that both binds it to the whole and sets it apart on its own. I found as I was listening that, although transitions between tracks were very smooth, I was always able to identify when it had moved to the next piece. Each track seems to run a perfect course, exploring feathery light sonic realms, with deliciously rich textures. Steve Roach helped produce the CD, which was put together in his Timeroom studio and mastered by Roger King. Roach also contributes sounds to two of the tracks, though even the tracks he wasn't directly involved in seem to have his musical tendencies.

The music is nearly devoid of any rhythm, although some of the textures, like some subtle crinkling noises in 'Leaving the Skin,' lend themselves to a slight feeling of something solid. But for the most part, the sounds just hang beautifully in the mist, often with metallic brightness meeting deeper, lower tones that don't quite approach darkness, merely hinting at it instead. 'Zero Ground' delves a little deeper into the darkness than some, with traces of the style Roach employs on his disc 'The Magnificent Void.' Titles appropriately convey the feelings evoked, such as 'Resonate and Glow.' 'Crystal Eyes' is velvet smooth, with Roach's soft guitar contributions sounding much like Jeff Pearce's ambient music.

I have reviewed many ambient CDs, and though I have only played 'The Drift Inside' a few times, I would have to say that, without question, it ranks as one of the finest ambient releases I have ever heard. If you like formless shifting ambience, you are virtually assured of a thoroughly rewarding listening experience. (PD)

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