Steven Miller

This CD is an assemblage of eight beautiful electro-acoustic compositions, influenced by the timeless, eternal concepts inherent in Javanese and Balinese music. "Prelude: Element 1 -- Suksma" (1993) has beautifully floating layers of sound in droning, eternal stasis; "The Shadow of the Mosque" (1991) is a dense texture of dream-like transparency with the sounds of worshipers way in the distance; "Under the World Tree" (1994) features moving improvisations on the Balinese suling and a large traverse bamboo flute against a deep, undulating drone; "Beirut" (1996) opens with a deep gong-like rumble and drone which is actually (and surprisingly) made of a loop of a Balinese flute phrase; "Zen" (1995) is a beautiful lacing of textures built from transformations of Buddhist percussion instruments; "Lost Temples" (1996) is of an almost indescribable timbre again built of a sampled and looped Balinese flute; the title piece "Subterranea" (1996) is the third work built from the Balinese flute sample, and has the timbre of a low continuous wave rolling along with odd creature-tones floating across that equally mysterious terrain; the "Postlude: Element 3 -- Prana" (1993) is a lovely piece of multiple resonances, a drone and a sort of huge electronic string instrument that is occasionally strummed, accompanying a carefree flute solo. ~ "Blue" Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide