Sanctuary

by Stephen CookRecorded between 1993-1994 at Trinity Church in New York, Sanctuary finds the Deep Listening crew further charting the modern classical-ambient terrain explored on most of their prior releases. Featuring Pauline Oliveros on accordion, Stuart Dempster on trombone and didgeridoo, and David Gamper on organ and flute, the band -- along with singer Julie Lyon Balliet on two tracks -- stretches out on five long players for this Mode label release. While Balliet fits in like another wind instrument most of the time, the group's Expanded Instrument System (electronic filters through which the music is run) gives the proceedings just the right amount of techno ambience. And even though, at times, the specter of new age-style classical music rears its ugly head (all wind chime percussion and wobbly didgeridoo notes), the trio keeps to a restrained and sophisticated program of minimal and ethereal musical meditations. A fine recording.