Robert Rich "What We Left Behind" CD16 months after "Filaments", a spectacular odyssey through fascinating space expanses, one of the undisputable ambient innovators returns with another jewel. On "What We Left Behind" CD, as displayed by its title, Robert Rich transforms his dreams about the Mother Earth when the humankind is gone, with a crow as a spirit guide, into an exquisitely sophisticated soundsculptures, showcasing his continuous musical virtuosity. Out since May 2016 on Robert's Soundscape Productions, the CD comes, as usual, in a really gorgeous 6-panel digipak masterly designed by a frequent collaborator John Bergin exhibiting stunning cover art by Ibizan painter Romanie Sanchez, who has already contributed her amazing art to two collaborative releases by Alio Die & Paralled Worlds "Circo Divino" and "Elusive Metaphor". So with such visual power it's quite obvious the first big points are awarded already, but this is nothing new when it goes to Robert Rich's CDs. Nowadays, when many physical items are released in reduced quality, we must be really grateful for such consistent artful bliss. Bravo, Romanie, John & Robert!!!"Profligate Earth" unfolds with authentic trademarking insignias, it simply can't be anyone else but Robert Rich! Filigree organic sounds masterfully amalgamate with nebulous blankets and intangibly subtle rhythm motifs, while guarded by abstractions of Chari Chuang's voice (remember Chari Chuang's virtuosic performance on "Medicine Box"?). A very pleasant intro with top-notch sound quality again delivered! Signature flute work returns (after absence on "Filaments" album) and announces "Raku" and commingles with gentle primordial rumblings, gossamer tribal patterns and captivating biotic quietudes. Richly enigmatic composition! "Voice Of Rust" keeps on its primal path, when merging yearning flute with languishingly rumbling artifacts. "Soft Rains Fall" excels with tremendous lap steel guitar artistry, when melting earmarking ethereal choir nuances with balmy beats, while soothing atmospheric blankets are riding atop. This is Robert Rich at the very top of his immersing soundmagic!!! Shorter "Rhizome" dwells in perplexingly primordial terrains. "Transpiration" is awakened by weirdly enrapturing sound fragments of child-like voice, but soon the center stage is stolen by utterly evocative flute, a truly genuine hallmark, which is meticulously bridged with monochromatic drone, phantasmal helixes and magnetizing tribal drumming. Over 5 minutes of pure aural ecstasy awaits here, a Hall of Fame track!!! The next composition, "Corvid Collections", melts mysterious flute motifs, subterranean drum patterns and contemplative tinkles. "Aerial On Warm Seas", with 9:08 the longest piece on the album, is driven by magnificently melancholic lap steel cries, which later metamorphose into powerfully intense, nearly transcendental stratums and then evanescing through bizarrely colored phantasmagoric sceneries back to weeping loneliness. This is a fully rewarding venture into unmistakable sonic domains demonstrating uniquely distinctive artistry of its sole protagonist. Hats off to you, Robert!!! "Never Hunger" reveals with deep drumming, longing flute and grieving lap steel guitar. Credited on last two tracks is Robert's Californian kindred spirit Forrest Fang for used abstractions of his performance on cümbüş (a Turkish stringed instrument). "After Us" dives into unfathomable depths with its static drone, distant hums and diaphanously rustling embellishments. 6-minute title track "What We Left Behind" incorporates pulsing laid-back rhythms coupled with calmly sweeping expansive washes and strikingly poignant lap steel vistas. Beauty!!! "Meeting Face To Face" starts serenely with slightly exotic fragranced strings, which conjugate with panoptic angelic lap steel choirs and warmly cinematic horizons. A truly gorgeous conclusion!Robert Rich is known for his perfection and consistency and "What We Left Behind" is a perfect example of his superiorly creative musicianship. A quite colorful 62-minute recording, which showcases all essential insignias of this Californian. They are fully blossoming and wealthily infused by 3 and a half decades of his stellar recording career. Thank you, Maestro!!! "What We Left Behind" is another true piece of art by Robert Rich, which will delight your eyes and ears!!! And by the way, since yesterday the newest CD by Robert Rich entitled "Vestiges" is available for order. A new album after 7 months? Wow, that's a quite unusual for this sonic explorer. I can't wait!!!Richard Gürtler (Nov 18, 2016, Bratislava, Slovakia)