Barry Cleveland - Voluntary Dreaming (1990)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:

Barry Cleveland - Mythos (1984)

Barry Cleveland with Bob Stohl and Kate Epple - Stones of Precious Water (1986)

Insomnia strikes again. Wake up at 4 AM, give up on getting back to sleep a little after 5 as the first hint of daylight comes creeping in. Come downstairs, put headphones on, put this album on. Lush layers of keyboard, guitar (acoustic, electric, 12-string, pedal steel), cimbalom, and gently buoyant percussion fill my ears. My sweet older cat comes and sits next to me, purring. Good boy. My dumb younger cat comes tearing around the corner like a maniac because he has just knocked my copy of Desertshore off the shelf and it was terrifying for him. It also looks like he managed to close the curtains somehow? I'm gonna go make some coffee.

Track listing:

1. Voluntary Dreaming

2. Ritual Sticks

3. Visual Purple

4. The Inward Spiral

5. Cleopatra's Needle

6. Hawk Dreaming

7. The Angel & the Abyss

The things I'll give to you

Also listen to:

Michael Shrieve & Steve Roach - The Leaving Time (1988)

Mark Isham - Tibet (1989)

Barry Cleveland with Bob Stohl and Kate Epple - Stones of Precious Water (1986)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Emerald Web - Dragon Wings and Wizard Tales (1979)
Barry Cleveland - Mythos (1984)

Ethereal, meditative sounds led by guitarist Barry Cleveland and featuring Bob Stohl and Kate Epple, a.k.a. Emerald Web. A shimmering, ritual haze of flute, sitar, bowed guitar, and synths, synths, synths.

Track listing:
1. No Expectations
2. Beyond the Pale
3. Indigo Ruins
4. Point Zero
5. Amber Clouds (Passing)
6. Fall in Rome
7. Stones of Precious Water
8. Blue Things
9. Ascendion
10. Bombay Dawn

Whispered visions

You should also hear:

Kay Gardner -
A Rainbow Path (1984)

Mark Isham -
Tibet (1987)

Barry Cleveland - Mythos (1984)

Blissed-out, heavy-lidded, ambient psych nirvana. Lush, chiming musical tapestries of gauzy synths, marimba, guitar, harp, and flute. Mythos would be an entirely appropriate soundtrack for a soul's ascension to the great beyond.

Track listing:
1. Aeon
2. Abrasax
3. Sophia
4. Fire Mist
5. Mythos

Amber clouds

Further listening:

Constance Demby -
Sacred Space Music (1982)

Tuu -
All Our Ancestors (1994)