I love it when albums like this come with a printed out explanation that allows me to really delve into how to approach it. So if you're really interested in what this is all about: "Atone's world constantly refers to itself, conveying the image of an indestructible unity, of a singular and unique whole. Imposing, harmonious. However, its evocative perfume carries us, as the music goes by... Like an immense and majestic river." WOW. I don't even think I need to elucidate for you the cree of this here release. If you're thinking Ambient Electronica that evolves into joyous drum-scapes then I suppose we're on the same page. Maybe I have a bone of contention with these sorts of albums, because it just seems like one is pumped out every goddamned week when they should rightly be delegated to the realm of computer-game soundtracks or the same new-age souvenir stores that sell air-brushed wolf shirts and wood chimes for your cottage. Its the irritating attempts at serenity in music that rubs off either orange for cheesy or brown for shitty. In this case i would say more the latter then anything. There is, to be fair, some redemption in the use of field recording loops and real instruments but not enough to prevent me from publicly stating that if you do not have some interest in any of the following, then you may find this disc to be repulsively banal:

-sweaters with zippers and hoods (preferably green with yellow around the cuffs)
-blurry photographs (preferably taken with a digital camera and processed in Adobe Photoshop afterward)
-Adobe Photoshop
-names that can be mistaken for processing chips and/or accounting software
-the movie American Beauty and its general sentiment
-dollar-store to mid-range aromatherapy
-abstract watercolor painting (process painting exempted)
-meditation for couples and beyond

So, don't say I didn't warn you. 2/10 -- Andrew Zukerman (17 July, 2006)