Vidna Obmana

An Opera for Four Fusion Works is a unique project by Vidna Obmana and Hypnos - a four-CD album, released one CD at a time. In each of the four chapters or "Acts," Belgian ambient/experimental artist Vidna Obmana (Dirk Serries) will rework or "recycle" the sound sources of a different musician or group. The four acts will be linked in a thematic sense, but will use completely different and distinct sound sources as raw material for Vidna Obmana's manipulation. Act I used guitar pieces from Dreams in Exile, Act II used Bill Fox's saxophone recordings, Act III worked from the foundation of Kenneth Kirschner's piano works, and this last installment utilizes the voice of Steven Wilson (No-Man, Porcupine Tree, and the artist behind Bass Communion).

Ascension of Shadows is a large-scale tribal groove atmosphere from Steve Roach and Vidna Obmana (Dirk Serries). This three-disc set runs the gamut of long-form composition. This chapter in the collaborative work between Steve Roach and Vidna Obmana is sure to delight those who appreciate the more serene, atmospheric side of their work together. On Ascension, the artists return to a more minimal core of sounds and approaches to reveal an atmosphere that flows for over three hours. As the acceleration toward the new century builds, this music offers a space for repose so needed these days.

Spirit Dome returns with a perfect companion, Live Archive. Living proof of the power of live performance, these recordings are so immediate and engaging it would be easy to assume they were crafted over months in the studio. Live Archive, from their 1997 tour, serves as a natural complement to 2004's Spirit Dome, recorded live to stereo master in one take in a studio-like environment. Live Archive was originally released as a small run on the Groove label in Holland, and has been out of print for several years.
Steve Roach / Vidna Obama's 2002 CD Innerzone served as the doorway to the surreal environment explored on Spirit Dome. Recorded in one continuous 74 minute session in a hotel room in Philadelphia, this is a dark sanctuary of pure texture and beautiful, if foreboding, dissonance pulled along with pulsing beats, subtle loops and dense soundworlds…

An Opera for Four Fusion Works is a unique project by Vidna Obmana and Hypnos - a four-CD album, released one CD at a time. In each of the four chapters or "Acts," Belgian ambient/experimental artist Vidna Obmana (Dirk Serries) will rework or "recycle" the sound sources of a different musician or group. The four acts will be linked in a thematic sense, but will use completely different and distinct sound sources as raw material for Vidna Obmana's manipulation. Act I used guitar pieces from Dreams in Exile, Act II used Bill Fox's saxophone recordings, Act III worked from the foundation of Kenneth Kirschner's piano works, and this last installment utilizes the voice of Steven Wilson (No-Man, Porcupine Tree, and the artist behind Bass Communion).

Projekt re-releases Vidna Obmana’s classic the River of Appearance with a bonus disc, the entire album performed by Oregon’s Dreams in Exile. River was a high point of Obmana’s early compositional style, presenting a minimal and serene flow utilizing sparse piano lines which intermingle with drifting keyboard loops and organic rainstick sounds. There is an overall harmonic unity on these 8 pieces, stripping dense walls back to reveal a slowly changing sound configuration. The 2nd disc is not merely bonus tracks, but a complete re-creation of the original on traditional instruments. Re-experience the everlasting melancholy of the River of Appearance on this exceptional 10th anniversary 2-CD release.

In another successful "recycling" project, Vidna Obmana reconstructs original compositions which willem tanke previously had rendered on classical European organs. These variations for organ, keyboard and processors respectfully merge two musical worlds from across time, simultaneously exploring mystical/physical revelations by way of thoughtful sonic alterations. The opening five tracks encompass six canons which form The Tao of Physics; having composed the original pieces as reflections upon Fritjof Capra's East/West metaphysical writing, Willem Tanke performed them on an historic Netherlandic church organ. After careful studying, avid recycler Vidna Obmana proceeded to dismantle and reprocess the oringal acoustic recordings, reassembling them in accordance with the Canon-method, and of course, his own fine-tuned sense of sonic art. The result is a hauntingly beautiful record that creeps upon you and passes out into the universe.

An ambient instrumental release from black tape for a blue girl’s Sam Rosenthal in collaboration with Vidna Obmana. More than ever before, Sam lets his emotions run away on a tide of ambient turbulence. Five drifting movements ride the intake of senses, breathing the air of life and surrounding beauty. As fullsome as the cycle of seasons, cascading visions of past and present contact loop and collide. A very deep personal intrusion into the mind & heart, represented by a dark, mysterious and sensual music. Cast adrift into the caring hands of this truly original and honest artist who not only lives within himself, but sheds his soul through others as well.

Spore is the second disc in Vidna Obmana's (Dirk Serries) trilogy based on Dante's Inferno. This is also quite a departure for Serries. He uses quite an array of eclectic devices to create this experimental - almost avant-garde - album. The most interesting sounds are from the overtone flutes and fujaras. Serries has commented that this is not an ambient CD. That is correct. This CD is interesting enough to be the focus of deep listening. It is not innocuous enough to be ignored as background music. It demands attention. The rhythms and atmospheres complement each other smoothly. The experimental sounds are neither dominant nor dominated. This disc is certainly electronic, definitely experimental, and decidedly Vidna Obmana. It will appeal to fans of Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Jorge Reyes, and Ma Ja Le.

Echoing Delight is a classic set of electro-tribal minimalism from Vidna Obmana (aka Dirk Serries). It features Djen Ajakan Shean and Tom Kloeck as guest performers. Serries created this deep soundscape just before his introduction to Steve Roach. Serries' work up to this point had been almost exclusively electronic minimalism. This CD shows hints of what is to come. Tribal rhythms and textures are interspersed among the atmospheres and ambient airs. The ethnic timbres are subtle but they are there. Serries' sound design creates a nice balance. It is distinctly minimalist and clearly tribal. This classic CD will appeal to fans of Steve Roach, Mathias Grassow, Klaus Wiese, Amir Baghiri, and Robert Rich.

With the help of frequent collaborators (and ambient pioneers) Steve Roach and Robert Rich, as well as percussionist/programmer Djen Ajakan Shean, Vidna Obmana piles layers upon layers of diverse sonic textures to create a seamless, flowing record perfectly suited for meditation or simple relaxation. By incorporating various ethnic instruments (including flutes, didgeridoo, and percussion) with abstract synth textures, natural ambient sounds and effects-layered vocals and chanting, Obmama creates mesmerizing, otherworldly soundscapes unlike anything you've heard before. A nice chill-out disc after a night of overstimulation, The Spiritual Bonding is a soothing, natural remedy for 21st century digital burnout.