Soma (Steve Roach and Robert Rich album)

Soma (sometimes spelled SoMa) was the second collaborative album by the U.S. ambient musicians Steve Roach and Robert Rich, following their 1990 album Strata.

Soma
Studio album by
Released1992
Recordedat The Timeroom in Tucson, Arizona and Soundscape Studio in Mountain View, California
GenreElectronic, ambient[1]
Length57:11
LabelHearts of Space Records/Fathom
ProducerRobert Rich and Steve Roach
Steve Roach chronology
Now / Traveler
(1992)
Soma
(1992)
The Lost Pieces
(1993)
Robert Rich chronology
Geometry
(1991)
Soma
(1992)
Propagation
(1994)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic() [1]
Muze(positive) [2]

Overview

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The liner notes explain that the word soma can be found in the ancient Vedic texts describing a drink made from plants to help commune with the gods (a botanical hallucinogen), and that the same word meant "body" in Ancient Greek.[3]

The music on the album is electronic and ambient music with psychedelic overtones.[1] The album ends with a gentle, serene piece for electric guitar titled "Touch".

The album reached number nine on the Billboard New Age chart for April 17, 1993.[4]

Track listing

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  1. "Love Magick" – 7:40
  2. "Nightshade" – 9:07
  3. "Going Inland" – 4:05
  4. "Silk Ridge" – 6:05
  5. "Blood Music" – 8:10
  6. "Soma" – 12:07
  7. "Seduction of the Minotaur" – 5:21
  8. "Touch" – 4:36

All compositions by Steve Roach and Robert Rich.

Personnel

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Musical[3]
with
  • Linda Kohanov – frame drum "cries, swirls and scratches" (on tracks 6 and 7)
Technical[3]
Graphical[3]
  • Design, image editing, montage: Stephen Hill
  • Cover: photochemical etching by Wernher Krutein (of Photovault, San Francisco)
  • Artist photo: Chuck Koesters

References

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  1. ^ a b c Soma at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Soma (by Darren Bergstein)". Steveroach.com. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  3. ^ a b c d Source: Roach & Rich, "CD liner notes"
  4. ^ "New Age Music: Top New Age Albums Chart". Billboard. April 17, 1993. Retrieved 11 July 2017.

Sources

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