Track Listing

1. Reflections in Suspension
2. Quiet Friend
3. Structures from Silence

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83789 in Music
• Released on: 2001-07-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Enhanced, Original recording remastered

Amazon.com essential recording
Owing a healthy debt to European synthesists like Klaus Shulze and Tangerine Dream, Structures from Silence is perhaps the best of Roach's early outings. Though it lacks the organic feel of later albums like Dreamtime Return or Well of Souls, it exploits sounds and compositional techniques that Roach would continue to refine: flowing sheets of near-choral synth sound; long, slow melodies drawn out of overtones and partials; implied rhythms built from pulses of electronic tone. Made up of only three pieces, including the epic 29-minute title track, Silence found an audience among meditators and musical therapists; no wonder, since its reflective properties echo what Roach has called the music's essence: "What [you feel] when it ends, a returning to the silence." --James Rotondi

Amazon.com
Owing a healthy debt to European synthesists like Klaus Shulze and Tangerine Dream, Structures from Silence is perhaps the best of Roach's early outings. Though it lacks the organic feel of later albums like Dreamtime Return or Well of Souls, it exploits sounds and compositional techniques that Roach would continue to refine: flowing sheets of near-choral synth sound; long, slow melodies drawn out of overtones and partials; implied rhythms built from pulses of electronic tone. Made up of only three pieces, including the epic 29-minute title track, Silence found an audience among meditators and musical therapists; no wonder, since its reflective properties echo what Roach has called the music's essence: "What [you feel] when it ends, a returning to the silence." --James Rotondi

Customer Reviews

Just like floating on a cloud
I thought Steve Roach's Quiet Music could never be topped for the best soothing music to calm the soul, but Structures From Silence is equally as excellent! I love this CD! This is just a re-release of the 1984 Structures From Silence album, and no changes were made except for the albums cover. I suffer from anxiety symptoms and when I listen to this album is calms me right down, my blood pressure and heart rate both drop significantly, and I can even fall fast asleep to it! Normally it is very difficult for me to fall asleep. I love all three songs and they blend together is a sea of peace and calm. The song "Structures From Silence" is particularly soothing. This album is so beautiful it can almost make me cry. I have most of the Steve Roach albums, and this is his finest work. Buy this if your aim is to sooth your soul and quiet your mind- You can not go wrong! Way beyond a 5 star rating, and priceless in it's ability to heal.

The Music of Life - Ambient at its Finest
Decades ago there was a program on KCRW (NPR affiliate in Santa Monica, CA) called "Discrete Music" (yes, named after Eno) that was broadcast at 5:00 am Sundays. I believe the DJ was Dean Suzuki. I would set the clock radio next to my bed to activate at 5:00 am on very low volume and the ambient tunes would flow in and out of my conscieousness and inevidibly set a mood of serenity for the rest of the day. Dean's impeccable selections introduced me to many pieces of music that have become life-long favorites. Among those near the top -- this album.

In "Reflections in Suspension," the discrete tones fall gently into the pool of ambience as do the beginning drops of rain into a mountain stream. The sequence of tones is very teasing. The mix of anticipation and surrender is thrillingly sublime.

This entire album always evokes a quote from Brian Eno which I will paraphrase as "The more something stays the same, the more it changes," meaning that the listener is drawn into a heightened sensativity where even the smallest variations become momentous.

An example of this acuity was demonstrated to me on a race from San Diego to Manzanillo, Mexico, in the mid 80's as several of us were languishing through a night of very light wind. I slipped "Structures From Silence" into the cassette player and was intrigued to observe everyone becomming more alert. Sails were adjusted in and out a centimeter at a time, the course adjusted by a degree or two, and the speed increased. People were not nodding as they vainly tried to thwart tedium and fatigue; instead, heads were up, looking around, discerning changes, feeling wind.

The next morning one of the crew that was off-watch while we had been sailing and listening to this album complained that they couldn't sleep with this music on! This particular person's favorite music was Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffet and "Structures From Silence" had kept them from sleeping. The specific complaint was something like, "There's no beginning! There's no end! And there's nothing much in the middle either!!" Sorry, the people on watch LOVED it...

Stress Relieving
I bought the original 1984 release of Structures from Silence, but I don't think there is a noticeable difference between that and the 2001 release. This is Steve Roach's first true atmospheric release (He had two less atmospheric albums before that). It may sound a little outdated and simple compared to newer ambient albums, but within its simplicity is a calming beauty that can relax every muscle in your body. It can transport you to a surreal dream world filled with a relaxing warmth. After you finished listening to this recording, you will feel refreshed and reenergized. Do yourself a favor and buy this album.