Steve Roach & Roger King Dust to Dust

“This is the soundtrack to lingering ghosts, to the lost but not-so-forgotten dreams of restless souls who were driven to Go West, by God!” Steve Roach’s instruments include harmonicas and beer bottles, with Roger King joining in on washboard.

I’m no real fan of the “untamed west” and so the subject and approach didn’t catch my imagination. Yet, the more I listen to this album the more it grows in stature and blows away preconceptions. It’s not that the sounds and atmospheres it conjures up are wide of the intended mark. Indeed a dusty trail through cactus valley, or the sound of a rattle snake lurking in an abandoned shack are exactly the types of imagery portrayed. It’s just that the combinations of desolate synth textures and western paraphernalia works extraordinarily well.

‘Gone West’ opens with expansive synth pads over which strummed steel guitar is layered to perfection. Harmonica then adds to the mix, played with real skill revealing yet another facet of Steve roach’s talents. The way the sound ebbs and flows, cutting like an knife before echoing into resonance is superb. And this is just the opener. There are some truly fascinating and poignant textures explored on this superbly presented album. It’s totally unique, and one of the biggest surprises this year. (GG)

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