"Echoing Delight" contributed greatly to Vidna Obmana's growth and development.  Djen Ajakan Shean collaborated with Vidna, always the master electronic manipulator.  They are in top form here.  The desert atmospheres are Middle Eastern.  The gentle ebb and flow of the minimalism evokes the image of a lone camel rider lazily traversing the dunes with nary a care in the world.  The journey is the delight.  The electronics provide the echo. "Parallel Flaming," by Vidna Obmana and Djen Ajakan Shean, is a subtle, charming, almost edible slice of hot ambience from Vid and Djen.  This is also Vid's final effort before his predestined collaboration with Steve Roach.  Fortunately, Djen is also a very good collaborator.  Under his influence, Vidna's talent has matured and his confidence has grown.  The subtlety of this CD can get lost beneath the overt ethnic rhythms.  They are strong but they do not overpower.  This is an essential rarity. "The Spiritual Bonding" is Vidna Obmana's first collaboration with Steve Roach.  Sometime between 1992 and 1994 Vidna met Steve.  Vidna writes, "The spiritual guidance and musical support of producer and composer Steve Roach, during the making of this album, gave me the opportunity to experience the magic of the desert and feel the pure power of the earth.  The blending of music of two opposite cultures became a reality&ldots;.  The desert became my new ritual and musical ground."  Steve and Dirk solicited contributions from Robert Rich and Alio Die, which they recorded at their own studios.  Vid recorded his piece at his Serenity Studio and took all of the pieces to the Planet Timeroom where he and Steve exchanged ideas, mixed it all together, added some of Steve's love and created this masterpiece.  And a new disciple was born! Those are the reviews - as they will appear in my book - of the CD's that Vidna Obmana recorded for the Extreme label.  Dirk has made it quite clear - and quite public - that this label is infamous for not paying the artistes.  Their artiste roster is a veritable ambient hall-of-fame and they have all been ripped off! Dirk re-acquired the rights to the CD's, remastered the music and re-sequenced the whole package to create a NEW cosmic triumph - The Subterranean Collective!  The sequence ebbs and flows elegantly as we see, hear and experience the tribal minimalism in an entirely new light. The new arrangement heightens the emotional and spiritual experiences of the original discs thus creating a new sojourn to the perpendicular universe.  Intense, deep and personal are the superlatives at play here.  Vidna Obmana is one of a handful of electronicians capable of taking us on the journey to the perpendicular regions.  The tribal textures and minimalist sensitivities merge to forge the perfect vehicle for this and many future journeys. In short - put it on, strap yourself in and hold on!  The journey is a non-stop spiritual adventure from note one to note last!  The CD is a y2k+1 frontrunner and a must have! Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

"Atlantis ...?" is a timeless journey of cross genre expertise by multi-instrumentalist Robert de Fresnes.  He blends new age sensitivity with ambient minimalism and space music soundscapes to create a mystical adventure to the lost continent. The myths and legends surrounding the existence and fate of Atlantis are often lost and interspersed among any scientific data that exists.  The question mark in Robert's title tells it all.  We don't really know if the land ever really existed.  Robert's focus is on the mythology and legend.  (That is a lot more fun than science!) Robert uses nature samples to enhance the aquatic nature of the legends.  The acoustic instrumentation creates a gentle background.  The ambient minimalism heightens the mystery.  The space music themes remind that this is science fiction!  This journey encourages adventure! Robert's sound design is flawless.  The flow paces the journey in symphonic fashion.  He introduces a theme, repeats it throughout the CD and puts it to rest at the end. The glorious adventure is high drama, striking crescendo and deeply personal.  We are invited to follow our own thoughts, feelings and spirits as we delve into Robert's soundworlds and imagination.  The diversity of the CD is impressive!  The journey is climactic! Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

"A Different Space" is Bob Holroyd's third CD.  His musical career, however, goes back much farther.  He began creating "visual" music - soundtracks and similar projects - in 1987 through Soundscape Music Productions, his own company. This CD is deeply influenced by Bob's travels through Asia and Africa and his exposure to indigenous music.  (He recorded several of the samples on location.)  Bob combines all of those influences with an ambient synth and drone and surrounds the mix with a club rhythm to create "A Different Space."  Some funky jazz undertones drive this energetic set to different worlds.  That metaphor is appropriate as Bob has definitely given us a world beat classic!  The synth, drone and acoustics are complimentary to the ethnic overtones. Bob performs the set with panache, grace, style and feeling.  The only English vocals are on the final (and title) track.  They plead for "an end to the flowing stream of blood and tears."  While no translations for the other vocals and samples are available, the hints to the meanings are provided by that passage and by the synths and drones.  Buried within the ethno techno rhythms are some dirge-like atmospheres.  Such atmospheres are the perfect foils for such angst and dissention. The combination of the aforementioned elements makes this versatile CD a winner and a valuable addition to ambient collections everywhere. Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

"Nostalgia Trails" is, to quote my good friend, Lloyd Barde, "a veritable feast of guitar motifs." The CD, by Tino Izzo, is a unique "best of" set featuring twelve tracks from his solo albums plus three new pieces.  Most unique among the new cuts is a very original and inspired interpretation of "And I Love Her," a John Lennon/Paul McCartney classic.  Tino maintains the romance of the original and adds a frenetic flamenco flair (alliteration unintentional but appropriate).  The uptempo version is a monumental soundscape with a smokin' rock'n'roll guitar riff complimenting the flamenco treatment. Indeed, Tino places rock riffs liberally among his sensitive contemporary instrumental passages.  That feature grabs me!  I am a huge fan of the treated guitar stylings of Jeff Pearce and Dave Tollefson.  Mark Dwane's guitar synth mesmerizes me.  I have NOT liked very much standard "new age" guitar music.  "Nostalgia Trails" transcends the new age classification, for me.  Tino's deft manipulations, soulful riffs and psychedelic echoes harken to a simpler time when the music was the message.  Beyond that, the feeling and energy create the transcendence.  The world beat influences create an aura of mysticism.  The modern styles take the entire set to higher realms. For guitar lovers, this CD is vital!  For music lovers, it is worthy!  Reviewed by Jim Brenholts