Listening Room ¯

Encounter
(Hearts of Space1988) CD
One of the musical dialects which has felt most natural to me is the language of Space. Although many of my albums have been written and recorded in the flavor of Space, this is the first to focus on Space as a theme. This series of vignettes evoke very literal images of a Contact/Encounter, and a journey into the environments of what we call ‘outer space'. We travel both linearly and dimensionally (obliquely) through this science fantasy on a sonic voyage that is both very personal, and yet familiar to all.

1. Encounter     Listen ¯ 
2. Craft
3. The Beacon 
4. On The Way
5. Dimensional Shift
6. Within
7. Distant Thunder
8. Alien Shore
9. Procession
10. Star Dreams     Listen ¯

Collected Ambient and Textural Works 1977-1987
(Fathom/Hearts of Space1996) CD
This CD features a select compilation of music from the early albums "Desert Moon Walk" (1977), "Ancient Leaves" (1978), "Jewel" (1979/1985), "Lyra" (1983), "M'ocean" (1984), and "Floating Whispers" (1987). During the recording of the earliest of these works, "Vicki's Dance" and "Desert Moon Walk", I was playing live at the Continuum Studio. The source material for these pieces was taken from those early live performances. "Ancient Leaves" and "Elysian E" were two of my first composed pieces released on LP. With "Morning" in ‘79, I began weaving ambient recordings made during my world travels into the fabric of the music. And, there are three pieces from "Lyra", recorded with sculptor George Landry's gigantic electronic harp. Some material has been edited. All have been meticulously digitally re-mastered. A full 74 minutes of music.

1. Elysian E
2. M'ocean     Listen ¯
3. Morning
4. Ancient Leaves
5. Subterranean Ambiance     Listen ¯
6. Rivers of Rhythm
7. Vicki's Dance
8. Jewel
9. Night Currents     Listen ¯
10. The Dragon's Dream World
11. Desert Moon Walk

Collected Thematic Works 1977-1987
(Fathom/Hearts of Space1996) CD
This CD features a select compilation of music from the early albums "Ancient Leaves" (1978), "M'ocean" (1984), "Plunge" (1986), "Floating Whispers" (1987), and several previously unpublished tracks. "Ancient Leaves" was recorded in the spring of 1977 and was performed live in August of that year at the "7-7-77" festival in Ocean Park. "Marriage Chords" was performed live entirely on the Serge Synthesizer for my wedding in 1980. "Three Faces of the Goddess" was created for a performance series with dancers, and the pieces from Plunge and Floating Whispers were created in between film projects. Some material has been edited. All have been meticulously digitally re-mastered. A full 74 minutes of music.

1. Spanish Twilight
2. Her Way
3. Dark Passage
4. Space Grass
5. A Moment Before
6. The Reflecting Heart
7. Bell Tear
8. Plunge
9. Almost Daybreak 
10. At the Bath
11. Marriage Chords
12. 3 Faces of the Goddess
13. Voyager
14. Floating Whispers
15. Ancient Leaves     Listen ¯
16. Penguins on Mars
17. Whoosh!

Ancient Leaves
(Continuum Montage 1978) CD
Earth Turtle/Groove remastered (1999) Michael's timeless first LP. Two extended pieces with deep synths, Kantele and Gregorian chants. Within the cover of Ancient Leaves awaits your musical passport... With Elysian E.

1. Ancient Leaves     Listen ¯ 
2. Elysian E     Listen ¯

Jewel
(Continuum Montage 1979/Sonic Atmospheres 1982) CD
Earth Turtle/Groove remastered 2000, Morning JewelMorning weaves ambiance recorded in the desert of Arizona and a Mexican village at dawn with synth textures and atmospheric vocals. The second piece, Jewel, was created on Erv Wilson's Eikosany instrument with soft ambient vocals by Marsha Lee. 

1. Morning     Listen ¯
2. Jewel     Listen ¯

Planetary Unfolding
(Continuum Montage 1980/Sonic Atmospheres 1981) CD
"Imagine the Earth as a being of sound. The sounds are of all times, its past life mixed with sounds yet to be heard. Now imagine the cosmos as a vibrating living orchestration, with a resonance so complex and deep that we are engulfed by a vast and tender silence." Considered a classic in its genre, Planetary Unfolding was performed entirely on the mighty Serge Synthesizer. From the opening movement "In the Beginning..." we are transported to the far reaches of deep space.

1. "In the Beginning..." 
2. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
3. "Wherever two or more are gathered..."
4. Life in the Gravity Well
5. As the Earth Kissed the Moon 
6. "Something's Moving"     Listen ¯

Lyra Sound Constellation
(Continuum Montage 1983) CD
Earth Turtle/Groove remastered (1998).  Michael in performance with George Landry's giant cosmic harp. Lyra is a truly awesome sonic experience. This is a very spacious recording, like the instrument itself. Lyra's strings stretch to over 25 feet in length and her tones rise from the underworld in strange and haunting textures. The final cut, Return, was recorded live in concert while Michael played his synths and Lyra.

1. Arrival
2. Subterranean Ambiance     Listen ¯
3. Intervals & Echoes
4. Rivers of Rhythm     Listen ¯
5. Sanctuary
6. Invocation
7. The Dragon's Dream World
8. Return

M'ocean
(Sonic Atmospheres 1984) CD
Earth Turtle/Groove remastered 2000.  Originally released in 1983 as "Light Play". Much of the material on M'ocean originated in Michael's early live performances which took place between 1978 and 1982. 

1. Sirens
2. Marriage Chords 
3. M'ocean     Listen ¯ 
4. Lightplay
5. Vicki's Dance     Listen ¯
6. Fireflies' Delight
7. Walking Song

Floating Whispers
(Sonic Atmospheres 1987) CD
Earth Turtle/Groove remastered 1998.  The music on this CD weaves a mood of reflection on places, times of day, and memories that bubble up from the ethers. At times haunting in nature, there are glimpses of other times and spaces not yet remembered.

1. Spanish Twilight 
2. Portraits (From Chronos)
3. Almost Daybreak
4. At the Bath
5. A Moment Before
6. The Reflecting Heart
7. Night Currents     Listen ¯
8. Floating Whispers

 

Return To Top	Artists | Music	Home