Both Zero Ohms (Richard Roberts) and Brannan Lane have come to prominence lately with strings of numerous ambient and atmospheric releases, placing them both at the forefront of the recent explosion of electronic-ambient artists. Prior to now, I was unfamiliar with both artists' diverse oeuvre. Lane's output is extremely--some might say excessively--frequent, (though truth be told he is no more frequent than Steve Roach, these days). Roberts releases Zero Ohms CDs on a regular basis. Both work together to create their second effort, the follow-up to last year's Soundfall to the Infinite: Immense Distance.

Being unversed in both artists' work, I was unsure what to expect from Immense Distance. Both Roberts and Lane are eclectic musicians, often playing a vast variety of acoustic and electronic equipment on any given release. Immense Distance came as a breathtaking surprise to me; upon first listen I could sense I was in capable, practiced hands.

Immense Distance is an album of complimentary parallels. Stated on the cover is a dedication to the lost shuttle Columbia and its crew. Clearly the thematic focus to Immense Distance is exploration of unknown territories; a rich field to explore musically, indeed. We begin with tracks one and two--really one long track--titled "Flows Adrift" and "On a Cosmic Sea." These tracks are a single reverberant soundscape with trilling flutes, sustained bells (that sound similar to the Tibetan Singing Bowl), as well as various environmental effects that give the track a distinctly Alio Die feel. This is understated environmental ambient at its most brilliant, as the music conjures up still forest landscapes, ghostly fields, and piers overlooking a gently undulating sea stretching into the distance. It's quite easy to get lost in deep-drone tracks like this, especially easy when the tracks are as intoxicating as these. By the time track two begins (seamlessly), we obtain a clear view of Lane's and Robert's intent. A gradual focus on flute, reminding me very much of Robert Rich's work, is apparent. Almost imperceptibly, creaking and sloshing noises become more prominent. It all becomes clear. We are on a vast sailing ship, traveling a great distance to explore completely foreign territory. We are not there yet, and are not likely to be there for some time. This is not the vision of exploration from the captain's cabin, complete with thoughts of monetary or trade gain--this is the view of travel from a sailor's perspective, deep down in the bowels of the ship where the shaped wood cuts through the wine-dark ocean, ungainly but inexorable. This craft may never reach the far shores, but the tone of brave exploration is maintained nonetheless. Taken in this perspective, this nearly twenty-five minute composition is staggering.

We then move forward to track three, "Immense Distance," which begins with a modern synth tone melody, accompanied by dramatic tympani-sounds and Robert's delicate tinwhistle. We are on the ocean no longer, unless one regards infinite space as an ocean of a sort. In the spirit of past trailblazers, this track reminds one of the calm before a spacecraft begins its journey into the heavens. The synth melody earths this track, and also permeates it with a sense of modernity absent from the previous two tracks. Personally, I felt it to unnecessarily dominate the entire track, volume-wise, but it seems as if this might be intentional. Track four, "On Currents of Sound," brings us right back to the ocean-faring ship, this time having reached its destination--an undiscovered land. We drift on the currents, eyes to the coastline, wondering what might be hidden beneath the verdant green ashore. Perhaps uninhabited nothingness, perhaps burgeoning civilization; regardless this is rich terrain to explore. On track five, "Into the Nth," we are transported to the spacecraft's destination, the impossible gorgeousness of space. There is no up or down here, only ever-expanding distance, 360 degrees around. The craft floats weightlessly above Earth, providing the ultimate perspective--just how small our tiny pebble of Earth is compared to the supreme majesty of the Universe.

We have been following parallel journeys, similar in spirit, separated only by time and technology, when track six, "In the Next Future" begins. Here, we have transcended earlier journeys into a rich tradition of selfless exploration. This is a gusty, vibrant track, reminding me of Eno's seminal "An Ending (Ascent)" from Apollo--another musical work devoted to man's endeavors outside his limited sphere. There are hints of the previous tracks here, all complimentarily added together. This is a gentle, affecting ending to a very memorable work.

In all, Roberts and Lane have crafted one of the finest ambient collaborations in recent memory. While both work in familiar and well-trodden styles, the work is strong, affecting, and emotional. The added parallels of man's exploratory nature make the music on Immense Distance all the more satisfying. There is a hushed reverence that pulls you in from the very first listen, allowing you to imagine yourself in shoes that most people will never likely have the opportunity to fill. This is a fine effort, and one I will be returning to often.

Available from Space for Music records.

since July 15, 2003