Skeleton Keys

Released in 2015, Skeleton Keys is a definitive statement in Steve Roach's modern modular synthesizer period. While Roach is often associated with the 'tribal ambient' sound he pioneered in the 1980s and 90s, this album looks back to the sequencer-driven foundations of electronic music (Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze) while utilizing contemporary Eurorack modular systems to achieve a level of timbral complexity impossible in the 70s. The album consists of eight tracks that function as a continuous suite of 'interlocking melodic mandalas.' Critics, including those at AllMusic, noted the album's departure from Roach's more cavernous, dark-ambient works, praising its rhythmic vitality and the 'shimmering' quality of its analog textures. It stands as a masterclass in the 'Berlin School' style, emphasizing the hypnotic power of the sequencer as a lead instrument. The recording captures the tactile, hands-on nature of modular synthesis, where the performer interacts with the machine in a state of flow, making it a standout entry in Roach's massive discography for fans of rhythmic minimalism.