On This Planet - Definition and Overview

On This Planet (1997) is an album by the American ambient musician Steve Roach. This is a studio album, specially performed and recorded to simulate the atmosphere of Roach’s live concerts.

Most of the music on the album is fast, rhythmic tribal ambient music. The album begins and ends with a recording of thunder. The first track, “Heart of the Tempest”, features a recital by Linda Kohanov of her poem which first appeared in the liner notes of Artifacts and the track “Remember It Now” features a spoken performance by both Roach and Kohanov. “Void Memory 4” is a continuation of The Magnificent Void. “A Darker Star” was recorded live in Milwaukee, WI in October, 1996.

Track listing

1. ”Heart of the Tempest” (4:26)
2. ”Journey of One” (3:38)
3. ”The Nexus Place” (7:05)
4. ”Trilobite” (3:33)
5. ”Void Memory 4” (5:36)
6. ”Cloudwatching with the Toolmaker” (5:41)
7. ”The Ecstasy of Travel” (4:59)
8. ”Remember It Now” (10:36)
9. ”A Darker Star” (13:19)
10. ”On This Planet” (14:06)

Personnel

• Steve Roach (analog and digital synthesizers, Samplers, sequencers, didgeridoo, Northern Sonoran dreampipe, grinding stone (matae), clay water pots, Udu drum, prehispanic flutes, percussion, effects processors, voice on “Journey of One” and “Remember It Now”)
• Linda Kohanov (voice on “Heart of the Tempest” and “Remember It Now”)
• Patrick O’Hearn (bass guitar on “On This Planet”)
• Roger King (bass guitar on “On This Planet”)
• Ömer Faruk Tekbilek (bendir, darbuka and bağlama on “On This Planet”)

See also

• Steve Roach
• Patrick O’Hearn
• Ambient music
• Electronic music