Steve Roach - On This Planet

On This Planet is a new form of live album from Steve Roach - a studio re-creation of the live experience.

STEVE ROACH spent over a year creating his epic two hour live show, refining the best material to bring the thunder of a Roach performance into your own space. STEVE ROACH 's recent sold-out solo concert before an enthusiastic Tucson audience was a spellbinding evening of contemporary ethno/electronic theater. The visual setting was simple modern hi-chroma lighting and a fog machine on an open stage, but completely effective in creating an atmosphere for intense sonic ritual.

A cluster of electronic and ethnic instruments center stage were mixed into the 3D sound space of a multi-channel surround sound system brilliantly operated by engineer Roger King. Loud enough to be emotionally satisfying but never harsh or tiring, this was concert sound totally unlike the norm and infinitely more involving.

The audience, ranging in age from 15 to 55, were completely attentive to a program that asked for extended immersion in the deepest and most powerful currents of sound. Two hours disappeared in a hypnotic display of virtuosic live performances on the didgeridoo, synthesizers, and an array of tribal percussion instruments, all animating a thunderous recorded backing track of ambient elements created and mixed by Roach on-the-fly for the performance.

Steve Roach's live show confirms what fans of his many recordings have known for years: This is an artist who is traveling his own road, sending back reports that have the power to inspire and engage less daring travelers. I'm not one to throw around words like shamanic but this concert warrants language like that. In scope, intensity, maturity, and depth of focus, Roach delivers the level of live experience serious concertgoers long for but seldom find.

Notes by Steve Roach:
On This Planet was carved from the live experience. Every concert I played over the last year provided a testing ground for the sonic topography I was exploring and refining.

There were moments when the spontaneous inspiration of the setting brought new compositions into form. "A Darker Star" was such a piece, recorded live as it is heard with a few brush strokes added later. Most of the material, however, was perfected in the Timeroom soon after returning from various performances or just before packing up to leave.

Rather than assemble a collection of concert excerpts, my aim was to absorb the on-the-edge atmosphere, take what I considered the peak moments and most profound musical discoveries, steep myself in the feelings and shape them over time.

Since I began presenting my music live nearly 20 years ago, I've been striving to capture the intensity unleashed when the honesty of putting oneself out in front of an audience is pursued. I encourage listeners to travel the terrain I've mapped On This Planet at the volume level of its creation. Feel it in your bones. Turn it up, and enjoy the ride! 

2-HOS-11082

 Credits

musical artifacts used On This Planet
various analog and digital synthesizers, samplers and sequencers, didgeridoo
Northern Sonoran Dreampipe, grinding stone (matae), clay water pots, Udu drum, prehispanic flutes,
assorted percussion, effects processors
voice on "Heart of the Tempest" LINDA KOHANOV]
voice on "Journey of One" STEVE ROACH
voices on "Remember It Now" STEVE ROACH, LINDA KOHANOV.
Guest artists on title track
PATRICK O'HEARN bass guitar ROGER KING pulse bass OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK bandir, darbuka, baglama
Very Special Thanks to
ROGER KING for his "on call" availability for Pro Tools sessions and pre-mastering
PAUL VNUK JR. for the DAT recorder and level watching in Milwaukee
VINA OBMANA for ongoing friendship
CLIFF TUEL for Web site support,
The FATHOM STAFF for label support
STRAIGHT WIRE for Timeroom interconnects
"ANALOG JEFF" KOEPPER for equipment support
BRIAN KEANE for Tekbilek recording session
LINDA KOHANOV for being on this planet with me

composed, performed, and produced by STEVE ROACH
all music published by Soundquest Music/BMI
administered by Liminal Music/BMI
recorded and mixed at The Timeroom, Tucson, AZ 1996-97
digital assembly ROGER KING and STEVE ROACH
'"A Darker Star" recorded live in Milwaukee, WI October 1996
art direction STEPHEN HILL
mastered by BOB OLHSSON at Hearts of Space, Sausalito,