“Talking about music is like dancing about architecture”. John Cage’s infamous statement may have never been more true than it is here as it applies to Stephen Bacchus’ new release. The “Memory Tap” probes deep into the subconscious, evoking feelings both familiar and not yet discovered. Artfully composed and meticulously produced, the music takes the listener on an enchanting journey, seamlessly transitioning between melodic phrases oozing with emotion to ethereal and otherworldly soundscapes. It is dreamy. It is majestic, inspirational, powerful and it is visionary. Bacchus really outdoes himself here, effortlessly layering classic synths with his skillfully crafted innovative original sounds. The “Memory Tap” is a must for all aficionados of electronic music, modern, classic or anywhere in between.”
— Tim Clément, composer, June 2021.
“Bacchus not only composes, performs, and produces, these pieces, he inhabits them. As most great ambient music, they invite contemplation, introspection, and revelation. Mood and grace are balanced with compositional insight and structure to create a track list that probes not only the notion of musical memory but also the boundaries of musical possibility. A standout in the field. “
— Scott Mackay, Science Fiction author
“There were moments when I’d be swept off in emptiness and then back into the presence of fullness. There were times when I’d drift dreamily and then be startled back by a musical sound that would coincide precisely and meaningfully with a passage that I’d just that instant read in the book. A soundtrack for reflective investigation? Or, an assistive aural composition that might massage one’s ability to probe a bit more deeply? What is it? How does this fit together or need it do so at all? Probably not.
The piece finally surfaced for me as one continuous passage through varying sounds and ghostly melodies. Though there were obviously succinct pieces being presented with individual titles, I didn’t view them as such. I “heard” them all together with seemingly planned/unplanned pauses and spaces in between.
Could comment on the packaging (which was bright, psychedelic and brimming with free form optimism), but I spent most of my time within rather than without. Nevertheless I loved the visual presentation signalling there was a lite ambient adventure inside rather than a dark one.
Spacious music – which is I suppose a kind of space music. Sound delivered with unexpected melodic and ambient shifts of tone and meaning. Much like how our memories usually work. We space out, remember one thing and forget the next. Then perhaps remember it differently later. It’s a risky entry point to allow oneself to hear and see what is inside and then share it with others.
Well done.
You left your tap on when you plumbed this particular recording.
Thank you for your soundings.“
— Beck H.
“My fav tracks are tr.4, tr.1, tr.2. Very meditative.”
— Renee Gelpi – Interplanetary Radio Group
– Terry Sprague, Nature Stuff
– Terry Sprague, Nature Stuff
“Songbirds pleasantly chirping in the cold of winter. Wildlife from the Canadian wilderness in the heart of Los Angeles. Only through the magic of natural ambience recordings can these instances be possible. Grant Mackay has an ear for the sounds of nature. For over a decade, he spent considerable time trekking through the wild regions of Canada to locate pristine environments for his series of nature recordings. “It is not only a question of finding the right spot but making sure you are there at the right time of year and the right time of day,” he explains. “Weather and annual seasonal patterns are a big factor. If it is a particularly wet spring, then the opportunities to record become limited both in terms of access to wilderness and because you need perfectly still, calm, sunny days to get the best recordings.
Grant Mackay has made it part of its mission to venture into completely unexplored wilderness areas. Canada is known by hunters and fisherman both in Canada and in the U.S. to have some of the largest tracts of crown land. Some of these wilderness areas stretch for hundreds of miles at a time. Earthaven has made use of these crown lands as well as special protected wilderness zones that have been designated as scientifically or environmentally significant. We tread very lightly by canoe or foot (only) into these areas, avoiding the use of motorized land or water transportation.
Mackay hasn’t always had to travel far to find natural beauty. His recording, “The Forest Marsh,” came about when he accidentally came upon an oasis of secluded marshland while exploring near his rural home. The artist explains that he was following some of the rough roads used by local farmers for transporting crops. A detour found him in a deep, hidden valley with a serene marsh that he later recorded. His new album, “Point Petre: A Birder’s Paradise,” highlights the symphony of song provided by the area’s avian population.”
– Music Design In-Review Magazine
