RoundUp

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15 July 2000

Century Seasons, Jonn Serrie (Miramar; CD), 2000.

Jonn Serrie's name has been synonymous with "space music" almost since the time that Stephen Hill coined the term for his radio program, "Music From The Hearts of Space." Serrie's music has never strayed far from a calm, ethereal sound that brings to mind images of flight, space travel, and slow peaceful movement of planets. His early albums, including "And the Stars Go With You," "Flightpath," were clean, uncomplicated albums. His later works "Midsummer Century" (with a cover reminiscent of 1960s science fiction magazines) and "Ixlandia" expressed a more romantic vision, what one might expect of a mature composer. Throughout his albums, there's been a sense of relaxation and an unhurried pace -- no pace at all, perhaps -- resulting in truly memorable music.

This two-CD set brings together selections from his many albums, and showcases the variety of his compositions. Though the flow from one excerpt to another can be a little jarring, it's a lovely overview of his music for the Miramar label. At the price of a single CD, it's a real bargain.

Order this title from Amazon.com.

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