Release data:

Distant Waves – Stones from the River

CD-r, Private Release, 2003

“Stones from the River” is the second release by father Roger and his son Justin Foote. Essentially, it was created using MIDI, E4XT, Matrix 1000, Nord Lead, Nord Modular, FS1R, and other equipment, including a Mac G4 Graphite running Digital Performer 3.6 and Bias Peak. From the start, it’s clear they made a step forward with their own interpretation of ambient-space, slightly minimal-oriented music, all inspired by the extreme geography of nature and the cosmos. The CD-R itself offers a nice print of the stones from the title.

The album itself contains six tracks, 53 minutes in total, of which “Onyx” starts with heavy drones and some tribal percussion before spacy, lush textures settle on top of them. “Fog” enters different territory with delicately scattered sounds of bells and bottles, creating a gentle, ethnic, almost Asian mood. “Nightfalling into Serpentine” proves a bit restless with its rather strange sequence and dark, surrounding soundscapes. “Wander” gets even again with quiet, slowly unfolding textures, accompanied by strong piano keys and spacy icing. The title track (in my opinion, the hardest piece) is an eerie soundscape of flute sounds and sparse but heavy drums, before things end in droney, far too experimental quicksand. “Ceremony” rounds things out with 12 minutes of contemplation: it seems to mirror the opening track with its heavy tribal beats, flutes, and fluid environmental / nature sounds.

Although rather peculiar, the full outcome will start settling in after several spins.

Rating: between 3 and 3.5 stars.

Note: As far as I know, the music is not available anywhere, as the band’s outlet on ElectronicScene.com dissolved in 2014.