Soundtrack For Motion

I know that it is a common goal in ambient music to create an atmosphere for introspection, but it has been a long time since an album has truly fulfilled that need for me. Even more so than his other ambient works, this latest release from Preston has the ebb and flow that I look for in this elusive genre. Yes, the album has an overall, common heartbeat, but this trait does not make the album feel static in the least. Instead, the common threads in atmosphere and rhythm create a feeling that these songs simply belong together. I think it's an arresting album that deserves any accolade it receives.

I'm not a new age fan generally, and feel that some of these tracks are more along the lines of ambient post rock/shoegaze. I especially enjoyed "Sweet Sound of Escape". These tracks remind me of some of Gerry Leonard's work on Duncan Sheik's earlier albums, and they have some ambient similarities to Candlepark Stars and Explosions in the Sky. At times, it feels like there is perhaps too much ambience and not enough forward motion or melody to drive it to its destination. It just sort of "sits" there and melts into a background of atmospheric monotony, which may be a symptom of the overall style. That said, I usually can't find one redeeming song on any new age album, let alone a handful, so I gotta tip my hat a bit to Dave for that. 4 stars is a BIG rating from me for any album in this genre.