Sand Dunes

Track Listings

1. Viva Spring

2. Caspian Breeze

3. Horizon

4. Bella Vita

5. Sand Dunes

6. Midnight Jam

7. Thunder of Flamenco

8. Celebration

Sand Dunes,Gypsy Tribe,X Dot 25,Contemporary Instrumental,New Age,New Age / Meditation

Sand Dunes

Tracks:

Musical Story, Yes
Better Day
By the Morning Sun
Tokyo
Artifact
Native End
ReEmergence
Peoples
GLOgli
Today
Tonight the Ocean Swallowed the Moon
Forest Hu
Somesing
Trinocular
Vibyl
8 & a extra
Possibilities
Peoples pt. II
first mist over Clear Lake
Music, Us

Amazon.com

They say this CD was recorded between 2001 and 2004 "at home and on tour, in bedrooms, hotels, moving vehicles, parking garages...." But despite its name, this isn't an album of sketches, lost tracks, and other detritus. Instead, Artifact is a haunting document of ambient designs, trippy lounge, and cinematic atmospheres that occupy STS9's first new CD in five years. The "home" recordings are actually verité vignettes providing connecting tissue for songs like "Better Day," a haunting lament with breathy guest vocals from Audio Angel (Rashida Clendening), and the space-age lounge music of "Somesing." A band that plays as much as it programs, STS9's compositions have a natural flow and integrity, as if they were grown as much as computed. "Tokyo" is a hypnotic jam of slide guitar and electronic atmospheres lashed together on a kinetic groove sliced by dream sequence logic. Imagine the Grateful Dead going glitch on Miles Davis's Bitches Brew and you have a good sense of STS9's sound and why they've played events from the alternative festival Coachella to jam-band gatherings like Bonaroo. Artifact doesn't look back, but forward to a horizon still a few moments in the future. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Stunning.......2007-05-06

Regardless of their stature as a live act, this is a wonderful recording. Strong, interesting songs, beautifully played and produced, make this album an easy 5 stars.

Studio STS9.......2006-04-29

It is always difficult to listen to a great live band confined to the studio, but STS9 seems to bridge a gap. While I can easily say that STS9 is curently one of the strongest bands on tour today, studio work sometimes will take a second seat. However, in the case of Artifact, the tribe seems to weave a layer and texture of music that is often lost on traditional records. Innovation, energy and spirit define STS9 as best as i can. As the leaders of the "innovation generation" of the jam band scene, a la Disco Biscuits and Brothers Past to name a few, STS9 gives an energy that can't be matched. "Artifact" is just another step in blazing the ever evolving sonic soundscape that is Sound Tribe Sector 9

Lush Livetronica.......2005-09-08

Far from being sleep inducing, new age, elevator fluff, this is an uplifting, atmospheric album. Imagine a less brooding Massive Attack or a more adventurous Thievery Corporation. The music here is rich with sophisticated (but accessible) beats, a strong sense of musical exploration, and yet, capable of the wistful moments found in Kevin Shields' Lost in Translation soundscapes. This largely instrumental affair does feature a handful of melodic and soulful vocal tracks reminiscent of M.J. Cole, Koop, and Zero 7. Fans of Tortoise are easily encouraged to experience the wide array of musical ideas and sonic textures that Sound Tribe Sector 9 have produced.

Rather than songs engineered by those with a technological approach, musicianship plays the key role on this warm and intellectual electronica. Supposedly, STS9 are wonderful on stage (I admit to never having seen them live) but this review is based on the album in question and not on the group's direction or capabilities beyond the studio. A truly refreshing and lyrical album, `Artifact' is worthy of investigation.

Sorry Effort.......2005-09-05

I was really excited about this album and I can not even begin to express what a total disappointment it was. I kept thinking the next track would have some life or some beat and it never got going. Before you invest in this maybe pick up a live show somewhere --if they allow taping of course-- and see for yourself if you can stomach STS9. Still can't believe how overwhelmingly BORING this album is/was. And believe me I have an open mind to the type of cutting edge experimental music this is trying to be.

Much Better Live.......2005-08-02

STS9 has defined a new genre with their latest studio work: Elevator Trance. This album works better than a studio album. I came back from a concert festival fresh from a stunning STS9 show. I thought they were awesome, so I picked up this album. Yawn....use it as a sleeping pill if anything.