A review from New Age Retailer:
The Road Eternal is a new collaboration between American ambient wizard Steve Roach and Norway’s guitarist/electronic sound sculptor Erik Wøllo, and it presents their unique take on an age-old vision: the lure of the open road and what beckons us onward as we travel the back-road blacktops. Wielding a dazzling array of electronics, the duo crafts long excursions (the opening title track is a massive 21-plus minutes) into desolate yet beautiful electronic landscapes, seamlessly fusing frenetic, propulsive synthesizers and rhythms with melancholic, evocative ambient textures. By turns expansive and intimate, the album cries out to be played on moonlight rides. -Bill Binkelman
A review from One Thousand Pulses:
Building upon the riches of their first collaboration, Streams of Thought, Roach and Wollo team up once again to shake the electronic firmament loose and rebuild its infrastructure from the ground up. One of the biggest differences first noticed on their wonderful The Road Eternal is the duration of the pieces therein; jettisoning the prior recording’s episodic, albeit involving, construct for longer works allows the duo’s gorgeously crafted and intricate structures room to breathe. The title track alone benefits greatly from this approach; Roach and Wollo ratchet up the atmosphere layer upon layer, a spiky, modulated sequence pulses and grows, until the background becomes foreground, splaying vivid brushstrokes of tincture and hue across the stereofield. Comparisons are meaningless here, analogues moot: the duo’s unique sound patterns approximate little else that currently acts as vogue along any contemporary genre continuum. On “Depart at Sunrise”, cinemascopic strings signal the great, dawning expanse of past epochs, ripples of melancholia soon pierced by strangely arcing tones and cooing sequencer—amidst a record abundant with compelling sounds, this is one of the duo’s best works. “First Twilight” and the closing “Night Strands” (great title!) work their nocturnal jones more through the underbrush, soft, scuttling noises glowing like phosphorescent plankton in the wake of a dark sea, synths mimicking foghorns that cycle through the pitch black. What light then blossoms out becomes quite revealing indeed, illuminating The Road Eternal as another superfine work from its stalwart creators. - DARREN BERGSTEIN
A review from Relaxed Machinery:
Long awaited second collaboration of two highly respected veteran composers came to its final stage during Erik's visit in Arizona when performing on SoundQuest Fest in October of 2010. I am immediately impressed by the eye-catching 4-panel digipak with absolutely stunning blue colored images (photographs by Erik and Steve). But the visual part of this release is very soon leveled by the sonics as the opening title track "The Road Eternal" unfolds its 21 minutes long trip. Slower magical desert ambience quickly traverses into breathing, rhythmed and melodic parts, this is crystal clear sonic orgasm!!! No questions here, two true masters are at the top of their craft and musicianship merging with highest precision their own distinct trademarking styles. Absolutely exciting and adventurous overture!!! But this spectacular sonic travel continues on "Depart At Sunrise", which can be easily described as "crème de la crème" of melodious soundscaping. Delicately crafted and sculpted textures where hauntingly evocative atmospheres are skillfully balanced with highly attractive smooth, pulsating and energetic passages. To me, both these compositions are the most unique and imaginative pieces of art Steve and Erik did together so far, thank you so much, Maestros!!! Warm and dreamy "The Next Place" sounds quite mechanical and futuristic with always presented vibrant groovy elements, one of the most uplifting compositions on this route. "First Twilight" is more aerial and nostalgic cooling down piece. As night settles down, "Travel By Moonlight" begins, nice mid-tempo rhythmic tribal ride through still hot, but refreshing and darkened desert vistas, mesmerizing and relaxing! "Night Strands" peacefully completes this truly amazing, enterprising and panoramic trip. And don't forget to pack your headphones too! The Road Eternal is undoubtedly another highly polished pearl in both artists' discographies, magnificently rich in all aspects, musically, sonically and visually!!! I am a proud owner (and reviewer too) of this masterpiece!!! -Richard Gürtler
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