Release data:

Steve Roach – Dave Hudson – Sarah Hopkins – Australia: Sound of the Earth
CD/MC, Fortuna Records, 1990

This tribal album is a spin-off from Steve’s second journey to Down Under, which led earlier to his masterpiece “Dreamtime Return”.
Next to Steve Roach, the 63-minute sonic document “Australia: Sound of the Earth” also features experienced didgeridoo player David Hudson (who has several solo albums on this label) and cellist Sarah Hopkins. All deliver another tribute to the Aboriginal culture and the remote, harsh conditions encountered in the Australian outback.

The sonic invocations encountered on “Australia: Sound of the Earth” have strong organic roots, surely when it comes down to the solo tracks where Mr Hudson presents his raw, roaring didgeridoo. Steve and Sarah on the other hand deliver a textural voice by sketching out mysterious and atmospheric spheres, even entering darker territory from time to time.

On each of the 10 tracks, the sound current acts like a pure, ancient voice, being intense, spacious and quite primordial all the way through, while Steve’s synth wizardy adds the contemporary nod. It’s the combination of past and futuristic sounds along the profound electro-acoustic nature embedded in “Australia” which makes this a special but also though project to listen to.

Although sonically different from “Quiet Music” and “Structures from Silence”, this albums also breaths the deep end and is worth buying for the Roach pieces.

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