Steve Roach "Spiral Meditations" CDWith "Spiral Meditations", released during December 2013 on Timeroom Editions, Steve Roach shifts into cyber-tech infused trance ambient spheres. Eye-catching artwork is, as usual, designed by Sam Rosenthal and dominated by spiral talisman by Dawn Wilson-Enoch, in Northern New Mexico based painter, drawer and jewelry, talismans and medicine bags designer. Remember Dawn's spiral fossil photo on "Live Transmission" artwork or front cover illustration on "Live At Grace Cathedral"? The connection between images and soundworlds is again precisely utilized."Consumed By Sunlight", which has already appeared on acclaimed Projekt's "Possibilities Of Circumstance" compilation, opens the album in a truly impressive way. Tranquilly meandering washes guard the skies, while utterly relaxing sequences keep on shimmering. Magnificently absorbing laid-backness, more please!!! "Sand Painting", belongs to longer pieces on this album, when getting close to 11 and half minute mark. It dives straightly into continuous flow of mesmerizingly repetitive spirals. Strong cybernetic vibes move elegantly throughout. The more recurrent are the cruising pulses, the more mindscaping ride unfolds around the listener's ears. "Spiral Meditation", the title track, vibrantly hits the center stage with ultra fast cyberscaping texture, enhanced by all kinds of razor sharp blip arrangements. In case you didn't cross the gates yet, be sure you will be definitely blown away with this essentially hypnotic cyber-tech tune, a definite top-notcher!!! Shortest "Helix", as indicated by its title, delves deeply into extremely spiraling realms. "Spiral Meditation - Part Two", with 17 minutes the longest piece, exposes with rather calmer hypnotics, where waves of infinite soundscapes are carefully coalesced with velvety pulses coiling up into the sky domains. It slowly progresses into more vigorous oscillations and rides through hauntingly remote cascades, while full-bodied sequencer sparkles try to steal the show. Mind-bending transition is guaranteed again!!! The next tune, "The Feeling Expands", intricately merges richly euphoric sequences, various cybernetic enrichments and warmly expansive desert vistas. "Sustained In Soul Light" reveals with more intangible sharpness of rhythms and melodies, with very delicate touch. High-tech fragments keep on emerging and tranquilly evocative sky-high blankets are amorphously drifting with pure grace and insignia of the master. Gorgeously mesmerizing finale!!!"Spiral Meditations" album is a quite unexpected work by Steve Roach, much more hypnotic-infused than any of his other sequencer-driven adventures. Be prepared for 70 minutes of a hyper modern laid-back trance ambient delicacy. Maybe not as ultra immersing as usual for this genius of sound architecture, the word "Meditations" might lead to these expectations, but certainly as much mindscaping!!! That's why "Spiral Meditations"!!!Richard Gürtler (Mar 09, 2014, Bratislava, Slovakia)