NUMENA

Robert Rich's "Numena", a four piece album, is by itself and its date of release 1987, a turning point in progressive electronic music, which by then was happening in the USA not Europe, The Bay Area / Los Angeles school of electronic music, to be specific. By blending different electronic music stylings and primitive or traditional acoustic influences the style uprised and was called "alchemical" or "Sacred" space music.

Therefore according to its date of release and its direct plunge into this kind of artistic expression, NUMENA sets a perfect referential for this "New" school's directions and goals. But this work certainly grows beyond its date or taggins or style. Robert Rich's abilities as electronic composer did find the perfect route, which in his discography will eventually reach extraordinary sophistications, but it all started to take shape with this project and its daring blend of environments which travel back and forth music wise and time wise, thus the combined elements complement each other to perfection.

An unexpected emotional and frantic electronic "sacredness" counterpointed by excellent music composition, a true understanding of its primitive roots and a perfect sense of simplification by not sounding simple but deep and dynamic.

****4.5 PA stars