I think for the stupid and simplistic it may sound, I have to open this review by saying this work is a real masterpiece. My expectations were obviously high (hey! We're talking about Robert Ashley!) also for I've read here and there Ensemble MAE was great, but it went far beyond my best expectations. The title track of this cd is simply touching (written in 2004): piano chords sewed on what seems to be a post-jazzy/contemporary scenario crossed by Ashley's voice, probably the most interesting part is how the instruments and the voice of the composer can give the impression every voice (human or instrumental) is following a speech. Both the spoken part and the instrumental one made me feel like I could have listened to this song forever. The second track instead brought to my mind some works by Steve Reich as transfigured with the peculiar style of this composer, if you liked the interpretation of Ensemble MAE in the previous episode, you can't but admire their contribution to enrich the incredible "phatos" of this second exhibit to whichh they've contributed with their personal arrangements. According to Ashley's words: "the voice should be a part of every musician's technical skills" and that partially explains why on a severe contemporary piano texture, apart from some sporadic intervention by the rest of the ensemble, you'll hear some dutch speaking narrators telling something I'm not able to discern (except for the fact somewhere they speak about cocaine, can it be?). During the fourth episode, long simple notes will be a good reminder of the fact drone music has its roots in classical compositions more than in asiatic traditional/spiritual music. The closing episode helps creating an incredible atmosphere while the players during most of the composition never produce what you would label as a normal note. The track is really spectral and it will make you shudder to listen to such an intensity.

I've been listening to this work so many times, I was afraid it was just an enthusiastic first impression I've to control, but after several listenings I can let myself write get this work or give it a try It really deserves your attention. Brilliant.