Desert Solitaire (album)

Desert Solitaire (1989) is a collaborative album by U.S. ambient musicians Steve Roach, Kevin Braheny, and Michael Stearns. This album was conceived as a follow up to Roach and Braheny's 1987 collaboration Western Spaces.

Desert Solitaire
Studio album by Steve Roach, Kevin Braheny and Michael Stearns
Released	1989
Recorded	at The Timeroom, Crystal Sound and M'Ocean Studios in Los Angeles, California
Genre	Ambient
Length	65:12
Label	Fortuna
Producer	Steve Roach, Kevin Braheny, Michael Stearns, and Ethan Edgecombe
Steve Roach chronology
Stormwarning (1989) Desert Solitaire (1989) Strata (1990)
Kevin Braheny chronology
Galaxies (1988) Desert Solitaire (1989) Secret Rooms (1990)
Michael Stearns chronology
Encounter (1988) Desert Solitaire (1989) Baraka (1993)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Linda Kohanov	favorable [2]

The music consists mostly of subtle electronic textures, tribal percussion and occasional soprano saxophone by Kevin Braheny.

The title of the album is named after the eponymous book by U.S. author Edward Abbey, who died the same year and to whom the album is dedicated.

Track listing

1. "Flatlands" (Roach) (4:49)
2. "Labyrinth" (Sterns) (6:56)
3. "Specter" (Roach) (9:34)
4. "The Canyon's Embrace" (Roach, Stearns) (3:35)
5. "Cloud of Promise" (Roach, Stearns) (6:38)
6. "Knowledge & Dust" (Braheny) (3:23)
7. "Shiprock" (Stearns) (4:00)
8. "Highnoon" (Roach, Stearns) (10:30)
9. "Empty Time" (Braheny) (5:51)
10. "From the Heart of Darkness" (Stearns) (3:50)
11. "Desert Solitaire" (Roach, Braheny) (6:06)

Personnel

• Steve Roach (Oberheim OB8, DMX, Matrix 12, Xpander, Emax, Arp 2600, Korg M-1, Kawai K-5, ocarina, Taos Drum)
• Kevin Braheny (The Mighty Serge, Prophet VS, Prophet 2002, soprano saxophone, tin whistle, Diamondback rattlesnake)
• Michael Stearns (Roland S-50, D-50, Yamaha TX-7, Oberheim OB8, Serge Modular synthesizer, 12-string guitar)

with

• Chuck Oken, Jr. (shakers on “Flatlands”)
• Robert Rich (dumbek and gourd drums on “Specter”)
• Goergianne Cowan (voice on “Specter”)
• Miguel Rivera (effects and ghost percussion on “Labyrinth” and “From the Heart of Darkness”)
• Leonice Shinneman (percussion, pakhawaj, manjerra, African berimbau, melodic rattle, claves on “Empty Time”)
• Hyman Katz (flute on “From the Heart of Darkness”)

References

1. "Desert Solitaire". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
2. October 1989