Release data:

Rudy Adrian – Desert Realms
CD, Lotuspike, 2008

Finally, two years after his nice ambient album “Moonwater”, New Zealand-based musician brings us the follow-up “Desert Realms”.
The music of the cd is inspired by a weekend Rudy spent in the serene,remote and expansive desert landscapes of the American Southwest back in 2002.
In that respect, the eleven tracks on the almost 70 minute album form a sonic sketchbook of the grandness and immense stillness embedded in this barren but spectacular region.

The 7-minute “Saguaro Silhouette” is a great opener with Rudy’s wordless, aerial vocals and slow drifting sonic layers. Here, one can almost feel the heat of the desert closing in. It is followed by the short but lofty “Pathway” which sees Nick Prosser complimenting some nice Baroque flute.

The eight minute title track is the first highlight with its smooth, soft shimmering soundscape magic. Both “Circling Hawk” and “Fading Light” nicely continue the meandering, Eno-esque textural stillness, after which “Subterranean River” aptly ventures underneath the desert landscape. The atmospheric “Cloudburst”, sees Mr Prosser add his flute magic another time.

The next three tracks, all clocking at eight minutes, form the absolute highlight on the album, venturing in peaceful space territory (“Starlight”), while “Of Clouds and Mountains” and “Rocks under Moonlight” stunningly capture the real essence and haunting beauty of the natural surroundings of the desert landscape.
The 3-minute beauty “At the Edge of the Desert” features sustained Harold Budd-kindred piano and nature sounds, bringing things to an end.

All in all, “Desert Realms” is a very nicely rendered sonic vista, highly recommended for fans of desert music.

Website: www.rudyadrian.magix.net

You can see what reviews I have done of this artist on the Rudy Adrian artist page