LOSS

Loss if a lament to love lost, and it is a mournful question. Can the dead communicate with the living? With his lone lonely piano, and its canvas of white noise, Steven Wilson depicts tormented souls of both living and dead, lost, afraid, alone. It is essential about death, and the communication with the dead through technology, but atmospherically, emotionally, it explores themes beyond these; unfit for words. The only conventional instrument appearing is piano, most often performing dissonant notes, manipulated to give a beautiful sense of - you guessed it - loss. Pure ambience is the second instrument here. Footsteps, chiefly. Effects also run amok, giving texture to the sounds that imply, perhaps, it is all taking place in the room next to you; beneath you. Electronic influence is subtle: expect no keyboards or such. The electronics here are merely in production.

Essentially, this is mournful minimalism, executed with experimental and avant-garde methods. It is always soft, and unlike the Continuum projects, it never rises much in volume. It is infinitely haunting, but divinely spiritual and moving, as well. It is a unique brand of ambient music, done with class and style. So many emotions can be milked out of this music that my interpreting it is nearly futile. I will end my review here.