artist: Rusty Crutcher country of origin: USA style(s): Envronmental, ethno-ambient essential releases: Chaco Canyon (Emerald Green)

Crutcher has recorded a number of albums under the banner of the “Sacred Sites Series”, music inspired by areas of spiritual and historical significance around the world. Such heady subject matter could easily make for new age earwash - several of the albums border dangerously close to just that - but Crutcher succeeds admirably in capturing the magic of his chosen environment on the second album in the series called Chaco Canyon. The sound effects were recorded on site amongst the ruins of an ancient Indian civilisation in New Mexico. The lovely warm synth textures, subtle melodies and Crutcher’s precision deployment of his environmental sounds is inspired. Its simple music, but not simplistic.

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