Album Notes

Written, arranged and recorded over a period of 7 years. "Gary" Miraz's ONWARD is a transcription of his travels between 2003 to 2005 mainly in South America, Middle East and Europe. He used a variety of classic synthesisers and available percussive instruments for these compositions. Miraz captured an array of textures and moods with a laptop and DAT Field Recorder and mixed it over a 10 month period.

Miraz is known for his graphic design work with former German pop star Suzanne Doucet. In 2000 They collaborated on the classic ambient album "Resonance" as Doucet and Miraz. He is also known for his involvment with 90's techno band "Tonehenge" with Cellist Peter Ludwig. He now comes to his own on this grand scope of works.

Starting with a blast of thunder, courtesy of a Roland Jupiter 6, "DEEP" is as its title states. Rich grainy tones from the PPG Wave, EMU Emulator II+ Roland/Oberheim Horns and strings PLUS featuring Digeridoo artist Paradiso adding the Deep tones to DEEP.

"The River Ganges" evokes exactly what it states. You can vision yourself flowing down the that mysterious river of life. Prophet 5 drones, percussion and melodic ethnic string performance through the mighty Yamaha CS80 translate this piece.

"Foreboding" comprises of the PPG Wave, Santour and other sonic imaging instruments that envelope themselves across this surreal soundscape. A tender and small bass drum pulsates softly and slowly, keeping the composition together as if played by a wandering minstrel.

Guitars, Rhodes Electric Piano, Flute ask you to "Listen" to the spaces in between. Asking, "what is there"?

Influenced by the landscapes of Northern Africa and elsewhere "God's Domain" is highlighted by the ambient field recordings of singing Nightingales and Tablas filtered through an ARP 2600.

A flying ambient wash fades in from a ARP String Ensemble takes you " Through the Clouds of the Past". Dotted by a slow Rhodes electric piano phrase and deep vocal hits, This piece was inspired by flights over the majestic flights over the South American Cordilleras.

Hammond C3 harmonics, running creek, and simple acoustic guitar picks simply state that through "Stillness" much more can be said.

Inspired by days and evenings at the Schlachtensee Lake outside of the city of Berlin, Germany. "Within the Lake of Dreams" translates so well the feeling of deep and dark water.

Ethnic flute harkens the coming of the "Phases of the Moon" Accompanied in this ariel march are Processed Oud and Oberheim 2 Voice sequence.

This leads the listner into a "Passage" where a KORG MS2000R soft brass and PPG Marimba begin together and start to play over a deep gentel pulse. Highlighted by DX 5 flute and ARP OMNI Accordion.

From this relm the listener slowly transcends into a spiraling tunnel of modulated frequencys with a brief moment of clarity and enters into the eye of this ethereal hurricane Beckoning you to go "ONWARD"