3 1/2

High notch astro-ambiance blends lush synths with soothing tribal rhythms in a way many New Ager's (including Roach himself) have tried in vain to emulate since, though usually instead amounting to little more then the cliche this type of music has become to the market. It is not entirely solid compositionally; sometimes the mechanical shallowness rears its head after one too many loops, but when tracks come together like a centerpiece track "The Other Side", the album is worth hearing.

Roach's style has changed a lot. A lot of new ambient artists have come along since this release, such as Stars of the Lid, Deepspace [...]
and Vidna Obmana, and yet this stands near the top of the field. His style is more complex and layered now, but elements of this recording are still evident in some of his newer stuff, like mantram, and new life dreaming.

Roach became a bit obsessed with the Australian Outback at one stage in his career, and you can hear that he nailed the feeling of the place quite well. Having lived in Australia most of my life, I can hear what he was trying to do-the sense of starkness, and impenetrability in the deserts here is very tangible. Very impressive Mr. Roach.

Simply one of the best space/newage/ambient works ever pressed, Steve Roach's expanded score lends itself to the ultimate relaxation or chill-party CD. It's an arresting work - the man works miracles with electronics and sheets of sounds. Along with the same decade's "Chronos" by Michael Stearns, and Don Slepian's psycoactive, hypnotic, let's-get-back-to-Nirvana masterpiece, "Sea of Bliss," Roach's two CD epic will take you places few musics can. THIS IS GREAT!

Words cannot do this work of art any justice with this review. Spanning two-CDs, Steve Roaches 1988 magnum-opus "Dreamtime Returns" is arguably my favorite release of his to date even though I've since gotten other albums by him as well.

I first heard this album when browsing through a local public library already having his "Dreaming Now Then" compilation. I felt it would be great to try this one out but I never expected it to be this wonderful. Though I can argue about some other songs from his previous and subsequent releases, there is a transcendance that is found on "Dreamtime Returns" that I don't think is as strong on his other albums. DR had me entranced the moment I first started playing it.

"Songline" is almost pure Aboriginal paradise with mostly traditional drums and a spine-tingling didjeridou, a strong contrast to the rest of the album. "Circular Ceremony" is so beautiful that it worked up a tear or two in my eyes. The song has a haunting, minor note melody combined with rain sticks to give a sense of stillness near an approaching thunderstorm.

Words cannot do this work of art any justice with this review. Spanning two-CDs, Steve Roaches 1988 magnum-opus "Dreamtime Returns" is arguably my favorite release of his to date even though I've since gotten other albums by him as well.

I first heard this album when browsing through a local public library already having his "Dreaming Now Then" compilation. I felt it would be great to try this one out but I never expected it to be this wonderful. Though I can argue about some other songs from his previous and subsequent releases, there is a transcendance that is found on "Dreamtime Returns" that I don't think is as strong on his other albums. DR had me entranced the moment I first started playing it.

"Songline" is almost pure Aboriginal paradise with mostly traditional drums and a spine-tingling didjeridou, a strong contrast to the rest of the album. "Circular Ceremony" is so beautiful that it worked up a tear or two in my eyes. The song has a haunting, minor note melody combined with rain sticks to give a sense of stillness near an approaching thunderstorm.