A Must-Have, Broad-spectrumed, Mind Booster!
M. D. MCGINLEY | United States | 01/28/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"EMPETUS. n. 1. A driving force. 2. Incentive. 3. The tendency of a moving body to keep in motion after the force that caused it has stopped. Release in 1986, this is only Roach's fourth album after "Structures From Silence." "Empetus" is thus definitely for daytime listening, as its backbeats are uptempo, quick and syncopated. Track 1, "Arrival," starts off with a flickering wave of synthesized arpeggios and blends seamlessly into Track 2, "Seeking," ending abruptly into the more serious "Conquest" on Track 3, with it's definitely-80's drum rhythms and synthesis. Right from the start you are urged to "pick it UP...get the blood moving...let's go!" Track 4 finds a well-honed grove in "Empowerment," with the classic Roach-style pitch bending that is a flashback to another classic, "Structures from Silence." "Twilight Heat" on track 5 sounded strangely familiar, and for a minute I thought I was listening to Tangerine Dream. The influence of both Patrick Ohearn and David Arkenstone seem to have impermeated track 6, "Merge," with its pleasantly bright staccatos. The twinkly track 7, "Urge," with its well-placed drum fills gives a solid middle-to-end that leads into tracks 8 and 9, "Distance is Near", which usher one last rush before tapering off into the perfectly mellowed "The Memory," which is far too short at only six minutes. With this track we get another look into the future, where you could swear you were listing to the 1988 milestone, "Quiet Music." Steve Roach clearly shows his variety and talent on "Empetus," and for that reason alone this makes an excellent album for the would-be Roach fan. If you already know of his music, well, then you already know of its indispensability. This is among the top-quality works of electronic music, 45 minutes in length, where you won't be disappointed. TOP recommendation."
Up Beat Steve Roach
TangerineDreamFiend | MI | 08/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is not his usual ambient quiet music. It is like the german sequencer music like tangerine dream. It has a few mellow tracks but the majority is upbeat and really really good. I have been collecting tangerine dream, klaus schulze, and steve roache's albums and comparing it to steve's other sequencer music this is the best in my opinion for actually striking emotion and getting you pumped up. My favorite track is distance is near it is short like 2 mins but really gets you pumped.
If you like upbeat sequencer music this is a must!"
A bit "old hat", but keeps one's interest.
J.M. Leonard | wheaton, il. United States | 04/24/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"A very early offering from Steve Roach before he became fixated withprimitive tribal and ambient sounds. Definately noisier and more energetic than his later works. Things kick off with the powerful and haunting "Arival", letting you know you are in his domain and you aint goin' nowhere till he's finished. "Merge" is to my knowledge the only whimsical piece Roach has ever done. If not danceable, then toe tapping at least, and very engaging. "Conquest" and "Empowerment" are full of testosterone. The closeing piece, "The Memory", is a taste of what Roach would for the most part settle into the remainder of his carrer. Bittersweet, longing, meditative introspection. It's a beautiful and haunting finale. "empetus" is not groundbreaking in sound. Even when itwas released fifteen years ago this territory had been covered extensively, and often more inovatively, by the german masters like Schulze, Tangerine Dream, etc. It's not boring, however. Occasionaly it's even strikeing. Purchase as a curiosity."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1