Ether Dome

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
When Richard Bone lived in New York in the early 1980s, he was a member of the successful theatrical band Shox Lumania, which toured very extensively and released material on the ROIR label. Around this time, he started to work on some of the more experimental solo material on the side, some of which was released in Europe on labels such as Chrysalis France.

In 1991, Bone started his own label, Quirkworks Laboratory Discs, to release the aptly named quirky pop work, Quirkwork. This was followed by another release in a similar vein, X Considers Y.

The release of Ambiento in 1994 signalled the commencement of a new direction for the music of Richard Bone -- into ambient/space music. Though such releases as Metaphysical Mambo, Electropica, and the recent Coxa, integrate the use of Latin/tropical/jazzy rhythms, Bone sees his current mission as a journey into the mystic.

In the last few years, Richard has delineated his works even more clearly, with the more rhythmic or upbeat works coming out on his own Quirkworks label, and his more atmospheric, almost traditionally ambient works such as The Spectral Ships and now Etherdome being released by Hypnos. Many devotees of more rhythmic and melodic music, though, find themselves seduced by the serene beauty of his ambient work, and conversely, fans of Richards ambient music often find their toes tapping to the infectious grooves of the Quirkworks releases.

Album Description
Its not often that a musician shows the ability, let alone the inclination, to cover a musical ground as broad as that encompassed by Richard Bones body of work. From his early electronic pop music, to more recent forays into mamba, vintage jazz, Bossa Nova, Bone has displayed energy and wit in his more upbeat work, and a remarkable restraint and sensitivity in his more austere, minimal works.

Into this latter category falls his most recent work, Ether Dome. Inspired by a visit to the operating rotunda (actually called the Ether Dome, at Massachussetts General Hospital) where ether was first introduced to the medical community over 150 years ago, the music is meant to reflect moods that occur as consciousness slips away. Not quite as dark as its predecessor The Spectral Ships, and incorporating a definite musicality and respect for melody, nonetheless Ether Dome relies heavily on atmosphere for its effect.

Tracks:

The Induction of Gilbert Abbott
Unawakened
Calenture
The Letheon Men
Peripheral Nerve
The Incubus Wave
Lucidity Soul
Plateau to Level 30
Silverwake
Society X
The Shadowing Wall

Album Description

Its not often that a musician shows the ability, let alone the inclination, to cover a musical ground as broad as that encompassed by Richard Bones body of work. From his early electronic pop music, to more recent forays into mamba, vintage jazz, Bossa Nova, Bone has displayed energy and wit in his more upbeat work, and a remarkable restraint and sensitivity in his more austere, minimal works.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully shadowy and hypnotic.......2002-10-10

I heard several tracks from this CD on a Hearts of Space show, and knew i had to have it. Each track is different enough to keep you interested in the entire CD, but an eerie yet dreamlike mood is held throughout. Mostly electronic instruments create a canvas that a minimalist piano paints upon. If you have any other Richard Bone releases, but not this (or The Spectral Ships), you'll be surprised ... this isn't like anything he had ever done before or since. Really great stuff.

Why 4 stars? I reserve 5 stars for CDs that are classics in every sense. The audience for this CD is limited, but if you need something to get you in an eerie/dreamy mood, you'll enjoy this.

A gorgeous invitation into Dreamtime.......2000-10-20

This music is as luscious as a fresh, hot, Krispy Kreme doughnut. Smooth, luxurious, textured, delicate and compelling. You melt into an altered state of consciousness without even realizing that you have been seduced by these soothing feelings.

This album is a very rich aural experience. "Unawakened", "The Incubus Wave" and "Plateau to Level 30" are especially hypnotic as Richard Bone wraps your consciousness in waves of undulating sounds that evoke really sensual feelings within.

Song #3 "Calenture" is like being counted down into sleep. The music paces with your breathing as you feel yourself slipping deeper and deeper into that delicious relaxed space that offers total release from everything that may be causing tension or pain. It is a wonderful anaesthesia. When the voices come in about 3:45 minutes into the song one can imagine hearing an angelic choir soothing you and offering the promise of comfort and peace. Song 4 "The Letheon Men" could easily be the "Borgs" when they appear in their cubes in a Star Trek episode. You can almost hear them say "you will surrender, resistence is futile", indeed. I think this is my favorite cut of the entire CD.

If you are of a mind to get high on music and want something really exotic and erotic, then this CD will do it to you. On every level.

A melodic flight through the ambient sky.......2000-09-23

Richard Bone's music is really compelling. I prefer ambient music with some sort of theme, whether it is a musical, tuneful one, or overdubs. Richard Bone's music is graceful and very interesting to listen to. It is definitely on the ambient with a musical theme side, as you can hear the cut "Unawakened". The more ethereal, ambient flavor of his music comes out in cuts such as "The Introduction of Gilbert Abbott". All the cuts on this CD are very good. Playing the CD from one end to the other maintains interest throughout, and never gets repetitious, or dead. Richard Bone also does music which is completely different, but equally as wonderful, on his own Quirk label. Amazon carries the latest one, Ascensionism. I recommend both CDs.

Into the Ether with Richard Bone.......2000-06-13

Richard Bone is fast becoming one of my favorite artists in the ambient-chill-transglobal-with-a- Brian-Eno-twist genre. I risk limiting scope with such a description of this music, for words are not adequate to describe the soothing segues and melodious justapositions achieved on Ether Dome. A must for the serious collector of ambient/chill...