LYRA SOUND CONSTELLATION

I remembered watching an episode of the 1980s version of Ripley's Believe It or Not, the one hosted by Jack Palance, and his daughter Holly Palance and they were bringing up Michael Stearns and this LYRA used on this album, which came out at the same time that particular episode aired. LYRA was a custom made string instrument invented by Michael Stearns and partner George Landy (who did sculptures). Basically a bunch of strings attached to hexagons from bottom to ceiling, and plucked and bowed. Apparently a Beam was used too, some metal beam with strings attached that Francisco Lupica used on his Cosmic Beam Experience album in 1976 (he was going by just Francisco on that album), he's the same guy who did some of the sound effects off Star Trek: The Motion Picture off the Beam, and since I've can identify that sound, I wouldn't doubt Stearns got a hold of one since I frequently hear similar sounds off LYRA Sound Constellation. To me this is to the 1980s what Tangerine Dream's Zeit was to the '70s. This is truly a dark ambient album, conjuring a sinister atmosphere that would be very unsettling to mainstream listeners. Much of it using the LYRA and probably the aforementioned Beam. Hardly any synths are used, except for the final piece which is used in that grand, symphonic style. Given how I tend to avoid the 1980s like the plague because of not only what happened to prog rock, but of electronic music (Tangerine Dream slipping into mediocrity, many others going the New Age route, and Jean Michel Jarre not sure what he should try next), but I'm glad this is not like that. This is truly recommended if you iike Zeir, or dark ambient in general.