Album Notes

"Brand successfully manages to invoke atmospheres that bridge cultural references; I am hearing influences from disparate places, the indigenous Indians of North America for instance, perhaps something drawn from Japanese Noh, Mayan tribal music, although none of them dominating the overall soundscape. Conversely, ‘Song for Illumination’ is pure electronica – a resonant tonescape that brings to my mind the sun setting over the pyramid at Chichen Itza, a place loaded with ritualistic significance, and a barbaric history… a curious effect, as in any other setting, these images would not spring to mind at all – such is the power of Brand’s music. ‘Song for Sacred Places’ has exactly the same effect, yet more obviously uses flute, bass flute, rattles and medicine drum – only this time I am actually “living” in the ritual... heady stuff indeed, and best listened to under headphones in a dark and quiet place. “Song for the Moon” once again conjures up my recent visits to ancient sites in Mexico, with the ever present sound of crickets overlaid with shakuhachi. This combination of sounds has a mesmeric effect, particularly when the shakuhuchi becomes more layered, more resonant, it reverberates and sparkles, the crickets song insistent, urgent even - a genuinely moving piece of work." - AuralPressure.com

About Steve Brand:
Steve Brand has been making music in the experimental realm since the early 90's under the name, "Augur," with more than 20 limited releases on independent labels. In 2003, he began creating in the "ambient" genre under his own name. Steve describe this change in moniker and musical expression as, "part of the process of moving out of my head and more into my heart." Since then, he has issued a number of self-released disks, as well as releases on the esteemed U.S. labels, Hypnos and AtmoWorks, and the Italian label, Afe.

Brand's music has been featured on Stephen Hill's distinguished radio show "Hearts of Space" on two occasions (October 2007 "Darkwater" edition and August 2008 "Reading the Bones" edition), and continues in rotation on SomaFM's DroneZone. In early 2008, Philadelphia's experimental dance troupe, SCRAP Performance Group, used selections of his music as a backdrop for a recent composition.

Brand's recordings have been described as “ambient,” “tribal,” “ritualistic,” “a direct link to our ancient, and arcane ancestry” and “...not mere music, but an almost shamanic attempt at deconstructing our interpretation of reality, by connecting us to an anti-technological, primal psyche.”

In addition to his sound work, Steve is a Reiki Master and visual artist. Most recently, his photographic work was included in the 2008 Fourth Annual Juried Exhibition at Portland, Oregon's Newspace for Photography.

http://www.myspace.com/stevebrand1111