The first 20 years — an introduction to the soundworlds of Steve Roach

ESSENTIALS 1984-2004, SPACE AND TIME offers an overview of the first 20 years of groundbreaking recordings from noted electronic / ambient pioneer Steve Roach. Excerpting tracks from his Projekt Records releases, Roach hand-selected and edited these pieces into a thematic sonic flow — it’s an ideal insight into his vast recorded history. “Space” and “Time” are two themes that run constant in Roach’s music. Rich with emotion and nuance, his sound creations evoke a strong sense of atmosphere while simultaneously altering the perception of time within space.

From the expansive, time-suspending landscapes reflected in releases such as the now classic STRUCTURES FROM SILENCE (1984) and the epic 4-CD MYSTIC CHORDS & SACRED SPACES (2003) to the fire-breathing, rhythmic-shamanic expressions woven from all things electric and organic on THE SERPENT’S LAIR and EARLY MAN (both 2000), Roach has earned his position in the international pantheon of major ambient-atmospheric-electronic artists. Fueled by his prolific nature and uncompromising approach, ESSENTIALS 1984-2004, SPACE AND TIME invites the listener on a 90-minute journey into the extraordinary soundworlds of Steve Roach.

Artist Bio:


A longstanding pioneer in the evolution of contemporary electronic ambient music, composer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Roach draws from a vast, unique and deeply personal authenticity. Throughout his decades-long career, he has innovated and explored styles ranging from immersive textural works to ethno-rhythmic adventures as well as the elegant futurism found in his sequencer-driven releases. He’s proven to be an enormous influence on several generations of ambient artists, trance producers, and new age/world music fusionists. Grammy nominated in 2018 and 2019 consecutively, his career spans four decades and nearly 200 releases.

His prolific workflow is driven by the constant desire to draw deeper and higher into the realms that source the true power of sound before music. This dedication to the soundcurrent has been infused by years of transcendent concerts worldwide in dramatic settings from primordial lava caves to massive cathedrals. The omnipresent influence found in his Baja Arizona home base nourishes the creative process while inspiring a growing global audience.