OAR2

This is Lucid's third release. Overall, a more spacious and ambient release
than the previous efforts. While the feel may, at times, seem somewhat
somber, it also continues to display Lucid's subtle sense of humor; for
example, there is a mini trilogy entitled "Still, He Waits.." which is in reference
to group member Stuart Arentzen's (now deceased) cat, Orpheus, who has
been known to sit vigilant with steely resolve, by his (empty) food dish for quite
a long time, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on his human companion and
kibble source, "Stuie". Aurora Sunder seems to cinematically play out a child's
vivid dream world, from the hypnogogic awakening of "The Invisible Bright" to
the early morning post sleep ponderings of "Green Blood Wakes"; and then
concluding with more thoughts invoked by the previous night's dream ("Three
Shades Of Day") to a revelation that perhaps the previous night's dream was
not a chimera after all ("Clarion").

"The most ethereal release by Lucid. And maybe my favorite (until next one?).
Each track seems to be a different part of one long dream. It's amazing to see
that although the album is quite varied (so many moods!) it nonetheless flows
very naturally; it has a real continuity.

Another important quality is without a doubt, the originality (as always with
Lucid). I can't think of any other album that sounds like Aurora Sunder. From
the dreamy 'Luminous' to the moody 'Clarion', there's a whole world of poetry.
The voices of Rebecca Bird and Mishka are unique and definately add a 'je ne
sais quoi' (mystery?) to Lucid.

What's more, there's an inherent sense of humor to this release: the Mark
Taylor-Canfield (or should I say Canfield-Taylor? :-)) joke is hilarious. It's also
the proof that Lucid can cover indefinate sonic territories: from melancholy to
pure fun.

Then one could wonder how to describe Aurora Sunder; is it ambient, classical,
avant garde, or electroacoustic? who knows...it is Lucid, it is beautiful and it fills
me with joy..."

(F. Linnsky)