Release data:

Amongst Myselves – Sacred Black
CD, Private Release, 2003

“Sacred Black” is Steve Roberts’ third cd, who’s music caught my attention when I heard his (former) album “Still Life”.
The album starts with the slow morphing soundwaves of “Dawn 1958”, delving into intimate reflection, riding the edge between dark and light.
This is nicely followed by “Morning of the Earth”, which continues in the same way for exactly ten minutes.

“Sea of Rains” is next: an otherworldly adventure in ambient/space with strange cascading effects over solar winds. This is intriguing space music offering some new dimensions, followed a dreamy piece of music: “The Shores of the Cosmic Ocean”. The slightly choral-like textural environment contains a beautiful classic sample of Martin Denny’s Quiet Village, a gentle match with a more than interesting outcome.

“Argo Navis” gives the listener an sort-of uncanny feel, slightly experimental with some vague distorted guitar at the end. Listening and experiencing “5am Melbourne 1996” is a typical happy accident in audioland: its slightly circling sound is hypnotising, making you can’t just look away from what Steve is sculpturing: transforming a personal experience into audio format. Not to forget the little Pink Floydish sound at the end.

“The Demon Haunted World” is the most difficult track on the album: its overall industrial/experimental soundscapes have the impact of strolling over the darkest edge, I think it not at place here.
“Returning Home” seems to be the reward for this former hard track, as you encounter very nice, slightly dissonant & electronically moulded guitar-licks, which keep drifting and circling in yourhead after the disc has come to a closure after 50 minutes.
A nice reward for an album that demands deeper listening than the average stuff in ambient/space territory.

Those looking for some unexpected encounters should really try this on. I’m sure they won’t be disappointed…

Website: www.amongstmyselves.com

You can see what reviews I have done of this artist on the Amongst Myselves artist page