Robert Scott Thompson
The Silent Shore
Mirage is a new label dedicated to traditional ambient music. Don't expect rhythms, just soundscapes where vast flowing synth pads swirl and mutate to create very vivid picture music. Basically if you are into the Fathom label you will love what Mirage has to offer. Images of the sun slowly rising through the shifting mist of a new day come to mind as the gentle, rolling textures seep into your consciousness.

'Dreamsong' is a perfect example of how Robert uses sound like a painter would use watercolours. Very discreet percussion being used for instance to create an image of the first rays of sun penetrating the clouds to reflect off a gentle sea. Such a flowery description might make this sound rather New Age but forget about that, the overall atmosphere is much darker. 'Floe' is more wind blown but we are talking about a gentle breeze rather than a tornado.

'Spirare' is the most ominous piece so far, like some strange alien beast waking from a troubled sleep but tinkling synth touches and superb use of very understated percussion seem to calm it. 'Still Life' is like listening down a mine shaft to the noises of some long forgotten tribe. We then quickly move on to 'Real and Imaginary' which conjures up similar pictures to the first track before 'Erin Outback' takes us back to the tribe who have now emerged from the mine. This is very subtle and doesn't overload the listener, just providing enough to create the delicate scene. 'Shimmer Upon the Mirror Pond' (what a crappy title!) is all about those hidden depths beneath the water. 'Chanter 5:15' uses the sound of a gong and metallic shimmers with Gregorian chants that are so low in the mix they blend in rather than become a feature. This is a superb track and is my favourite on the album.

'Edge of Stillness' is a very short intermission making use of a heavily processed piano which leads us into 'The Fragrance of Soul' (heaven help us!). Very dark, mutating into what sounds like metal being chucked into an underwater skip! 'Causeway' is very sparse and just adds the odd synth touches to create its effect, a very minimalistic piece. 'Lightwaves' is another number that brings to mind the suns rays reflected off a calm sea. 'Nightvision' encompasses all manner of vocal effects and a constant tone that could be insects doing their nocturnal thing. I think I would rather be safely inside than walking through this little lot. 'Glossalalia' is a real dark one and things don't lighten up with the final track 'Painting Evening Across the Sky'.

So there you have it, a watery day according to Robert Scott Thompson. If you like rhythms, melody or sequences avoid but if you are into dark atmospherics this one is superb. (DL)

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