As Rapoon, ex-:zoviet*france: member Robin Storey specializes in experimental atmospheres and post-industrial sound rendered with gripping effectiveness. Unlike his former compatriots Storey's hypnotic mantras aren't drawn from esoteric sound sources. It's obvious that he makes extensive use of sampling, tape manipulation and looping, but the music of Rapoon is more structured, less chaotic, even tribal, in the way archaic cultures used repetition and 'minimalism' to broach their message to deities unknown. The spirits Rapoon conjure either rise from the primordial ooze breathing fire (as suggested by the noisier electro-acoustic swirls of "Alchiva" and "Djang") or poise themselves on the abyssal edge, waiting patiently for obeisance ("Ochre" and the ritualistic, ricocheting electronic percussives of "Snake Belly"). Ingeniously packaged in a limited edition flip top, balsa-wood box embossed with cave etchings depicting the dawn of man, Raising Earthly Spirits is a superb piece of experimental ambience, in both visual presentation and audio execution.

review by Darren Bergstein
i/e Magazine No. 7
phone 602-821-1061 / fax 602-821-1624
2300 N. Yucca
Chandler, Arizona
U.S.A.
85224

The most ambient (of Dream Circle, Vernal Crossing and this). Very little to no percussion on this one. Slow loops of what sound like raspy wind instruments with rich keyboard drones. Also kind of lo-fi but not as noticeable as on the first album. This sort of reminds me of being under water. Limited edition in a neat wooden box.

review by Matt Hoessli
found in the Hyperreal archives

Totally magical, awe-inspiring almost non-rhythmic trip through a universe of spaces, brooding chasms, undulating and uplifting waves of multi-layered, Eastern-influenced electronic, synth and deep bass landscapes. You are uncontrollably drawn in to a huge ambient black hole on a classic space musicepic with unique influences and roots. This is space music, it's not melodic, it's not tuneful but it doesn't just drift. Where it is rhythmic, it's quite dense and richly textured, There is an occasional Mid eastern feel BUT what makes this such an amazing album are the soundscapes that are created, the variation, the constantly shifting textures, the layers, the sounds and the production, all of which combine throughout the album to hold your attention and delight you with some seriously brilliant and full sounding real space music that's not what you think-it's better.