Steve Roach — Kairos- DVD & CD

Kairos is a wonderfully varied and rewarding musically ambient and visual treat. Offering up a DVD of Roach's rich soundworlds joined by mystically and psychedelic visuals. All beautifully edited together to make a captivating and flowing visual trip, plus a second audio-cd of the 70+ minute soundtrack.

Steve Roach has been plying his ambient wears since the late 1970's, and while this may lead some to expect this to sound dated, trapped in latter-day Tangerine Dream new-age synth nightmare, it's far from that. Kairos illustrates an artist still at the peak of his powers, still making fresh, atmospheric, vibrant and multi-layered ambience. Through out it's 70 plus minutes running time, he shows his ability to change tone and depth going from; deep droning dark synthclouds, to more upbeat sleek rhythm-led soundways, to mysterious and atmospheric soundwashers, which are all underpinned by other instrumental touches and organic tones.

If the exceptional music wasn't enough in itself, we get the visuals which are frankly awe inspiring and very re-watchble. Going from floating and overlaying footage of desert scapes, to deep swirling and morphing computer animation, to kaleidoscopic organic visual tapestry, to shift rich psychedelic patterns and colours. Featuring visual moving art talents of Lynn Augstein, Steve Lazur, Steven Rooke, John Vega, and John Wadsworth, with hybrid visual creation and final editing by Roger King.

There really are no low points here, as the shifting and morphing audio-visual landscape keeps you enthralled though out. A few of my favourite musically and visual moments would be: The unfolding dark and mysterious organic synth shapes of Etheric earth, which are visual joined by drifting alien aurora borealis like colour wash, that pull you in further and further. The deep and dark droning floating of Resonation Portal, which is joined by kaleidoscopic and haunting footage of jellyfishes and other alien-like marine life.

Really if you only have even a passing interest in any form of ambience this is very desirable and for those of you long time ambient fans you really have to ask your self why you haven't got this already?. To find out more about Kairos and to buy direct drift into Steve roach's web portal here.