Release Date: February 10, 2004

Genre: Electronic/Ambient

Label: Soundscapes

Distributor:

Producer: Robert Rich

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Calling down the sky came highly recommended to me as one of Robert's most acclaimed ambient/ethereal works and so I got the album this morning and decided to get straight into getting this review written.

I didn't know until relatively recently, that Robert Rich has something like over 30 albums out there. I have three and boy do I have alot to catch up on!

In Robert's words, Calling down the sky has a lovely event attached to it: "This 74 minute live recording documents an entirely improvised concert in Denver CO, on Saturday July 26, 2003, with an intimate audience who came prepared for anything. With a thunderstorm forming outside, breaking to a peak mid-concert, this improvisation referred directly to the recent weather I had experienced on tour that summer." (For more information on Robert's observations, perceptions and inspirations during this period, follow the links from his website above).

The first track Erasing Traces is magnificently composed and delivered as a pre-flight guitar dream sequence to one of the most invigorating trips you're ever likely to make. The piece comes complete with some beautifully ambient sweeps, pads, drones, and inserts. After only a minute or two of concentrated listening, I realize that I would have loved to have experienced this in a live setting regardless of the weather! (come to Canada Rob!).

Overhead, Vertigo, and Supplication, bring some truly dynamic and engaging textures to the fore and the atmospherics this music produces are quite enchanting to say the least. Watch out for the environmental inserts and thematics coupled with the really awe inspiring musicianship and performances.

From Borealis to Recognition, we start on the journey home but by taking a completely unpredictable path, Robert manages to point out and reveal stuff in places most of us wouldn't ordinarily have watched out for. It's a smart percipient artist that can achieve this in a seemingly effortless manner but one in which we're all so willing and ready to become absorbed by.

Visit Robert's site and buy this album. It will be the one purchase you'll make that will have a dramatic effect on your view of excellence in cool, conceptually clear ambient music.

Elley Wilson

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