ETHOSPHERE by Zero Ohms

In the tradition of Paul Horn’s “Inside” albums, ETHOSPHERE by Zero Ohms draws the listener into an expansive ambient space beyond time through a collection of nine soaring improvisations for unaccompanied flutes. Illuminated by the purity of Ohms’ solo flutes, now lush, now fragile, countless worlds beyond worlds are revealed, opening a welkin of wonders, where divinity itself stares down unblinking.





Ethosphere (a review by a. b. johnson)

Back in the day, during recovery from an untimely cardiac event, I discovered the emotionally stirring, transpersonal effect of the ambient-scapes performed by Zero Ohms. Apparently I was in dire need of slowing down and I found that the vast and layered palette that Roberts provided when engaging gently undulating drones sweetened with lush effects and captivating melodies using synths, aboriginal woodwinds, delays and sampled effects somehow penetrates one’s worldly veneer, reaching within to calm the seething mind while taming the exterior noise of life into a peaceful blur of welcomed slow motion.
Now, as then, do the meandering, yet mesmerizing melodies of Ethosphere, Zero Ohms’ latest invitation to inner journeying, still evoke the heart-expanding, transpersonal experience of earlier music-scapes. But this particular sojourn is guided by the singular voice of one soul embracing instrument, flute, and only flute. This “tribute to Paul Horn” as Roberts dubs it, winds its way through the many powerfully familiar ethos of life; playful, somber, alien, intense, whimsical, sullen, epic and simple. Most amazing of all is to discover that when Roberts dares shed all of the typical trappings of the ambient sonic palette, not only is nothing lost, indeed, much, much more appears to be revealed.
One note of caution, however... as I found out on a recent commute with Ethosphere as my traveling companion, due to the highly transpersonal effect of this release, it is advised that you do not operate heavy machinery when immersed in this atmosphere, for this Ethosphere is lovingly demanding.

--- a.b.johnson

Zero Ohms (Richard Roberts) - wind-controlled synthesizers & over 50 various flutes, saxes, & other woodwinds. A writer, painter, musician, teacher and producer, and Grammy-nominated recording artist Richard follows what he has termed Tao of Zero Ohms (literally: way of no resistance).

spottedpeccary.com
hemi-sync.com
relaxedmachinery.com