The Islands series of six three inch (80mm) CDs from Archipelago kicks off with a much anticipated release from Rhomb titled Lunatic. Begun in 1998, the Lunatic project has undergone a number of transformations before arriving at this form. The duo behind Rhomb, Nathan Kreisberg and Michael Bentley, tried various different methods to translate their concept into music and found success in these freeform compositions.

Rhomb work here in a minimal style but create a robust sound none the less. Silence, or near silence, is a potent element in the two pieces on this release, and helps define an audio environment with lunar qualities. The Moon's legacy is one of contrasting visions; the cold and majestically desolate images from the Apollo missions somewhat at odds with the lush dreamscape which prompted such names as Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms), Mare Nectaris (Sea of Nectar), and Palus Somnii (Marsh of Sleep). Lunatic's tracks, Marium (Of the seas) and Montium (Of the montains), capture both aspects and add to them a wry wink and a lunatic gesture. Marium progresses through episodes as if moving from mare to mare (the latin word for sea), each passage musically distinctive but joined as a tapestry. Montium rises from a percussive theme and forms a continuous ridge of sound, echoing thunder and wind around its peaks.

Rhomb integrate many ideas into their work. "Our influences range from Tonto's Expanding Head Band to Vangelis, from Kraftwerk to Morton Subotnick," relates Kreisberg. "...and we have different, but complementary backgrounds," Bentley adds, "Nathan's oriented around classical piano, and mine more around purely electronic music and even folk." Each bring something unique to the table in their ongoing collaboration, creating a seamless blend of melody and rhythm, atmosphere and structure.

Nathan Kreisberg and Michael Bentley have known each other for over 20 years and have collaborated musically off and on throughout that time. Past projects include pieces for a dance company, commercial soundtrack roughs and the compact disc release Hidden Topographies (on the Foundry label). Rhomb's work has also appeared on Eclectronica and Mote (both from The Foundry), and the Goldtri Volume Two compilation. Rhomb have recorded tracks for two different future releases.

This CD is available through the following sources, as well as directly from the Archipelago; Amoeba Music (US), Aquarius Records (US), Drum Machine Museum (US), and CD Services (Scotland), with more outlets to be announced.