Some familiar chants open the lead track, "Ascension for Protection," of
Cavern of Sirens by
Steve Roach and
Vidna Obmana (
Dirk Serries). There are many tie-ins on that track.
Roach recorded
Thupten Pema Lama, of
the Monks of the Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery, at Timeroom in November 1995. Those same chants would be used as the base for Prayers for the Protector in 2000.
Roach and
Serries would also collaborate on
Ascension of Shadows in 1998. But, the most important tie-in is the development of this album from that simple base. This is the first of many collaborations between these two and, in many ways, it is their deepest. From that auspicious beginning, this duo takes listeners on a psychoactive journey through two sound-worlds that become one. Individually,
Roach and
Serries are among the strongest and best e-musicians in the world, certainly among the top five or ten. Having such talent on the same marquee is unprecedented. It is difficult to rate such excellence other than to say that this CD is essential. ~ Jim Brenholts