Steve Roach – The Desert Winds Of Change (Timeroom Editions, 2024)
Steve Roach is one of the most prolific electronic music artists in the current scene. One of his new recordings is The Desert Winds of Change under his Timeroom Editions label. This spellbinding 5-part composition encapsulates the essence of riding thermal waves through spontaneous creation, enriched with profound passion and elegance. The music itself serves as the ultimate testament to this experience, marking the transition into a new year with momentum and anticipation.
Emerging from a year packed with continuous concert engagements and a 12-month artist residency at Tucson’s intimate Century Room, The Desert Winds of Change blurs the lines between live and studio recordings.
The visceral energy palpable in this release is the culmination of Roach’s 45 years of dedication to crafting emotion-infused electronic music. Throughout 2023, his monthly live performances served as a testing ground, featuring artists from the US and Canada alongside Roach’s own works in development, fostering an environment ripe for creative exploration.
Reflecting on the evolution of the series, Roach describes how it became akin to a second home in the live setting. He is excited about debuting a new long-form sequencer-based piece, inspired by a portable system tailored specifically for this musical direction. The live studio setting provided a unique platform for connecting with the audience and channeling the emotional essence of the music.
The influence of Klaus Schulze, an essential, pioneering figure in electronic music, looms large over this performance. Roach acknowledges Schulze’s influence on his own artistic journey, dedicating this piece to his memory and legacy. The composition pays homage to Schulze’s early works, which profoundly shaped Roach’s musical identity.
Recorded on August 1, 2023, during a live Ambient Lounge session at Tucson’s Century Room, The Desert Winds of Change captures the raw authenticity of a live studio performance. With no overdubs or edits, the music flows organically, driven by Roach’s methodically crafted setup, including a mix of modular synthesizers, sequencers, and effects units.