Disc Frisk - Review by Steve Lea
(April 99)

THE SPECTRAL SHIPS
Richard Bone

         While only his debut on indie label Hypnos Recordings, The Spectral Ships is, in reality, the tenth full-length cd released by Rhode Island’s reigning ruler of all sounds electronic - Richard Bone. Exceeding, by far, even this rabid fans’ eager expectations, Bone’s latest musical musings gently, yet deliberately, submerges the listener into deep oceanic soundscapes encased within bubbles of eerie darkness from which the ghostly mutterings of bewildered shipwrecked souls slowly rise and where melancholic gusts of ‘the calm before the storm’ quietly swirl into existence. While primarily one of his darker, moodier works, Bone somehow also instills a strong underlying current of this being a place where peaceful passages to the ‘other side’ begin. Deep, huh? Well, I guess that’s one of the joys of listening to Bone’s music - you never know where he’s going to go next, but you can always count on it being a most enjoyable experience! 9 hauntingly beautiful tracks!

Faves: "The Wild Hunt", "The Serpentine Arcade", "Astrea"