BLOODMOON RISING - NIGHT 4

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The 28th of September 2015 marks the occasion of the fourth blood moon lunar eclipse, which means the final volume of defining progressive electronic/ambient music artist Steve Roach's series of related works is now released. As with the previous volumes, `Bloodmoon Rising - Night 4' offers a single extended, deeply hypnotic sound collage devoid of any percussive elements that drifts for almost 74 minutes, lulling the listener into a pensive, reflective state. But surprisingly, and most welcome of all, `Night 4' eventually reveals itself to be a more varied, accessible and even warmer release than the previous volumes, as subtle direction and mood changes carefully bring light to the darker qualities.

Low-key rumbling chimes spiral into infinity and drowsy electronic ebbs lap at the senses, leading to chasm-like groans that murmur with unease. Rescued by more comforting, gently cinematic crystalline shimmering breezes, sustained ethereal washes spread like an ocean that weave a contemplative environment of hope and life reborn.

Initially available as a free download from Mr Roach's Bandcamp page, a proper four CD limited edition set is now available that, with the inclusion of the previously unreleased `Night 1' volume, promises to be a very unique and evocative body of work from the artist. While appealing most to lovers of long, lengthy droning atmospheres, this fourth and final volume offers more variety and shifting sounds that will make it more accessible to unsure electronic listeners, and it would actually be the best place to start for newcomers to the series. Those who usually shy away from more vague, challenging drone elements will find more focused, warmer and approachable passages here, and `Bloodmoon Rising - Night 4' might just be one of Steve Roach's most beautiful, triumphant and reassuring works of 2015.

Four stars.

The slow and heavy movements of our lonely satellite.

If one could accurately paint a clear musical picture of massive planetary heaviness (for real) and its slow paced transitions, well Steve Roach's "Bloodmoon Rising - Night 4", 2015, ceratainly does the trick with impeccable results.

I do agree with fellow reviewer Aussie Byrd Brother, that this release, is the perfect way to introduce yourself to Mr Roach's "Bloodmoon" saga. If you are already familiar with it, this project portraits true refinement in both music composition and sonic/visual results, that all of his Bloodmoon's projects possessed, but not so perfectly achieved and as accurate as this one.

It is hard not to fall and feel this hypnotic rendition of this cosmic phenomena (at least for us earthlings), while one can not help wonder how high Steve Roach is setting the bar for electronic music in general.

Anyway, the real deal about this release, as in many other of his low-keyed masterpieces, is his concept of beauty. Beauty, in Roach's world, has freed itself of any common places usually misused or abused by his peers in all fields of music. Beauty is attained by straight forward music composition, it is a consequence of contrasts counterpointed by good and unique songwriting and in Steve Roach's case, years of experience. Beauty is a mystery found, it is dark as it is bright as it is in the middle and Steve Roach is well aware of this.

Another great mystery, at least in this Prog sub-genre, is how easily one can find expensive and overrated works by minor (but proud and polite, I suppose) musicians and inexpensive masterpieces by superior artists like Mr. Roach. A total mystery!

If you miss this one you are on your own!

****4.5 PA stars