Diatonis (Diatonis/ MP3.com: Landscape of a Dream

John W. Patterson

Recent articles (186 total)

Published: April 1, 2001

Music reviewing, I confess, can be pure tedium – pop in the CD, open the liner notes, look at the press kit blurbage . . . yada, yada. You wait for the first track to cue up and you think to yourself, countless many times, “Here we go again,” and you let the music speak as you have before – but fortunately, you sometimes encounter “wonder and beauty” afresh. Such is Diatonis’ Landscape of a Dream.

I found 110% pure meditative relaxation, calm inspiring bliss, and portals to mind-peace. Diatonis, aka Stuart White, offers flowing, warm electronic rivers, sometimes mysteriously distant, sometimes mother’s-womb intimate but always well-crafted ambience. Don’t look for melody or obvious loops or sequences – you will only experience an ever-changing current of deep-mind sonics. Whether cathedral-keyed or space-movie track enigma – Diatonis massages ALL the right ambient hot spots. This is one of my newest “repeat play” favs.

Nearest “sounds like”? Diatonis is mostly himself but on “The River Flowing” a vague echo of Steve Roach is heard. I remembered the final track of Roach’s Empetus, (LP version).

Stand-out Diatonis piece for me was “Ocean of Mercy” and it’s sweet and tender peacefulness – I was even moved to lift my soul-voice to the King of Heaven during one listen. Now that’s music for the spirit!

Cyberhome: http://www.mp3.com/Diatonis

Track Listing: Magician's Cross (11:32), Ocean of Mercy (15:25), Persistence of Time (16:29), The River Flowing (8:39)

Personnel: Diatonis aka Stuart White

Record Label: D.A.M.
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream