Spacecraft Earthtime Tapestry

There is no doubt about it - Spacecraft are a class act and their last album ‘Hummel’ deservedly sold very well for SMD. They first came to our attention by being on just about every US specialist radio station’s play list. This album is even better. The accompanying promotional blurb, though more accurate than most, describes this album as being Ambient. Not to these years it isn’t. There is too much to get to grips with here to be ambient and besides the sequences, though subtle are much too high in the mix and attention grabbing to be ambient.Eleven tracks are listed but most float into each other. Two gorgeous tinkling sequences come out of the cosmic mist to give ‘Earthtime Tapestry’ a classy start. Very quickly there is an enormous amount going on. You will hear something new every time you play it. Initially it was the subtle guitar touches that caught my attention though there are any number of elements which could have grabbed me first. We drift into ‘Living World’ which is a very atmospheric section. A bubbling sequence keeps us company as subtle sonic images are delicately created. A more up front sequence pulsates away over the beautiful angelic wordless tones of Diane Timmons, (imagine Alquimia but more ethereal) on ‘Dreams of One’. Another beefier sequence comes in at five minutes and the track becomes more and more strident but somehow still manages to keep itself under control. ‘Elder’s Mourning’ begins with cosmic bleeps and twitters, deep synth strings then start to create a mournful atmosphere which is heightened still further by Diane’s just heard vocal colouring. It disappears again like a dream but one that will be remembered instead of disappearing phantom like as the light of day returns.

‘Migrations’ acts as a short bridging piece to ‘Circles’. A complex sequence starts to form, fitting like a glove with an even more detailed lead line. Mesmerising beauty. ‘Beyond’ uses some absolutely fantastic deep space effects with the ‘voice’ of Diane sighing over the top. Dark and haunting stuff. ‘Stepping Lightly' is a hypnotic piece, soothing you into a state of trance. ‘Seed’ is a gently rhythmic, slightly spooky bridging piece to the final two tracks ‘Thread of Continuity’ and ‘Homage to Gaia’. Both take you even deeper into the uncharted realms of space. Very eerie but fantastically done. This album is further proof that Spacecraft are the best group currently in existence from the USA. Simple as that. (DL)

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