ROACH,STEVE - Sky Opens (Sealed) (2CD)

Magnificent, majestic and voluminous truly describes the expansive sonic experience spanning this 140-minute 2-CD set. THE SKY OPENS represents a sublime moment in the evolution of Steve's 40-year history within the ambient/electronic genre. His sound manifests through an artistic process of real-time engaged interaction where his vision is channeled through a blend of technology, composition and improvisation, all captured in the moment of creation. This transpires for Steve in the studio as well as in live settings where mostly hardware instruments bring his studio environment to the stage. This album takes a unique approach to documenting live electronic music; the listener is fully immersed in an acoustic expanse that completely embraces the music. THE SKY OPENS presents his 2019 Ambient Church concert in it's entirety experienced within the warm, reverberant sanctuary of the 95-year-old First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, California. Microphones in multiple locations throughout the church capture the emotional, breathing dynamic of the music combined with the acoustic influence of the 1200-capacity audience. Blending this with Steve's live console mix, the album balances the magnificent natural ambience with subtle detail fine-tuned by mastering engineer Howard Givens. Along with a disc's worth of of all-new material, THE SKY OPENS includes the first-time live expression of the seminal minimalist-ambient "Structures from Silence" performed on the classic Oberheim OB-8. As the set evolves, five tracks from Steve's epic ethno-atmospheric landmark DREAMTIME RETURN are elevated to a new level by the influence of the sacred sonic space and mesmerized audience. THE SKY OPENS is a pinnacle moment reaching towards places beyond. Ultimately the pure emotion, passion and vision of Steve's work is elegantly brought forth in this dynamic performance; the sky opens indeed. ARTIST BIO: Steve Roach is a leading American pioneer in the evolution of ambient/electronic music, helping shape it into what it is today. Grammy nominated in 2018 and 2019 consecutively, his career spans four decades and nearly 200 releases. His massive catalog of landmark recordings includes STRUCTURES FROM SILENCE, DREAMTIME RETURN and MYSTIC CHORDS & SACRED SPACES. Drawing from a vast, unique and deeply personal authenticity, his albums are fueled by the momentum of a lifetime dedicated to the soundcurrent. Steve is an artist operating at the pinnacle of his artform, driven by a passion and unbroken focus enhancing the emotive, soul-stirring depth of his music. From the expansive, time-suspending spaces reflecting his spiritual home in Arizona to the fire breathing, sequencer-driven rhythmic-tribal expressions woven from all things electric and organic, this innovative world of sound has been nourished by years of transcendent concerts worldwide. Always reaching towards what's next on the horizon, Steve refuses to be tied down to any one stylistic direction. Capturing peak moments as they occur in his Timeroom studio or in live settings worldwide, he creates a sonic experience that breathes emotion and vital life energy that connects to an ever-growing worldwide audience.