Terra Ambient is the recording name for Jeff Kowal, a talented instrumentalist and creator of lush sonic realms. Though the music can be considered electronica, it contains no synthesizers or drum machines. Instead, Kowal's sound-worlds arise from drones made from human voices, guitar, percussion, bansuri, and other assorted instruments.
Structurally, the compositions on THE GATE are minimal, but that merely adds to the powerful, mesmerizing effect of pieces like the nine-plus minute "Sandstorm Dreaming" and the surging, ghostly title track. As the title and the artwork indicate (the cover shows a dramatic black-and-white depiction of a stone portico on a Dali-esque desert), this is music that will transport listeners over inner and outer boundaries. Deeply atmospheric, evocative, and original, it is hard to resist the trance-inducing qualities of Terra Ambient's THE GATE.