Released
1994

Label
Hearts of Space Records

Reviewed by
Matt Simpson

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Last Edit/Update
28 June, 1999

MBNT

A recollection of proto-ambient music from Hearts of Space

Track Listing

1. Kevin Braheny: After I Said Goodnight (edit)
2. Suspended Memories: Curandera
3. Steve Roach/Robert Rich: Silk Ridge
4. Michael Stearns/Ron Sunsinger: Subterranean Garden
5. Mychael Danna: Selene
6. Al Gromer Khan: Taj (edit)
7. Paul Avgerinos: The Lotus Eaters
8. Michael Stearns: Encounter
9. Constance Demby: Into the Center
10. Robert Rich: The Raining Room
11. Nik Tyndall: Windchimes

For ten years before the current ambient wave, HOS artists have been
navigating the inner spaceways. John Diliberto -- producer and host of NPR's
ECHOES and music critic for Pulse!, CD Review, and Jazziz -- selected cuts
from the entire HOS catalog and provided the insightful, informative liner
notes. It's called MBNT -- on our Fathom label.
(Taken from the Hearts of Space web site)

   The name is basically self-explanatory. Hearts of Space presents a collection of purely ambient music and explains its purpose in the full liner notes. Giving a vivid history and background of ambient music too vast to summarize here, this collection really emphasizes ethereal and textural ambience.   
    This CD is fantastic to fall asleep to. I consider that QUITE a compliment when pertaining to textural ambience. The sounds and textures are quite varied all throughout the tracks, but each concentrates on the sonic mastery of ambience. This, to me, is the true trance music, as varying drones and pure textures engulf the listener's imagination.
    I enjoy good ambient music (and I wonder how many times I can say that in
different reviews..) and this fully fits that bill. This ranges from organic to electronic in nature, but nothing seems cold or strictly calculated at  all. This music wouldn't fit as background environment; rather, it is a music of serenity coupled with confrontation. Beautiful and yet hidden forms of ambience, drawing on influences of Satie and Eno unfold to present a fantastic release of ambience that I heartily love.