Plunge by Michael Stearns
In the mid 1980’s, there was a radio programming phenomena that could be described as “New Age Pop”. A number of radio stations emerged in major metropolitan markets that played this music and as the wave crested, the music moved into satellite radio. Although Michael didn’t identify with the “New Age” movement, his music was often adopted by its’ followers, as was the music on “Plunge” and other albums. Today "Plunge" is still in rotation on satellite radio.
During that time, Michael performed every year for a gathering of people from the Christmas holiday through New Year at the Asilomar conference center on the Monterey Peninsula in California. The conference was hosted by Brugh Joy and David Spangler, each year having a specific theme. Wisdomkeepers associated with the theme were invited to speak and Michael would play concerts to open for them. He wrote a lot of music for those concerts. One year with a science fiction theme, he opened for Frank Herbert, author of “Dune”. Another year scientist Brian Swimme spoke, author of “The Universe is a Green Dragon” and Michael was very moved by his presentation. The album “Plunge” had this quote from Brian’s book in the liner notes: “Plunge into the work of living as surprise become aware of itself. You are the essence of surprise, the heart and core of play. Show yourself as truly as you can, and you will in that moment shine with the freedom and frolic and fecundity of creative play.”
Tracklist
| 1. | Splash | 3:32 |
| 2. | Two Memories | 3:27 |
| 3. | Penguins On Mars | 4:34 |
| 4. | Dark Passage | 4:39 |
| 5. | Space Grass | 4:20 |
| 6. | Tickle | 1:44 |
| 7. | Entry | 4:00 |
| 8. | Plunge | 5:20 |
| 9. | Whoosh! | 7:15 |
| 10. | Bell Tear | 1:53 |
| 11. | Exit | 2:19 |
| 12. | Loose Ends | 0:58 |
Credits
Music composed and performed by Michael Stearns
Weslie Brown – vocals on “Plunge”
Dennis Fetchet – fiddle on “Space Grass”
Richard Hardy – tenor, alto and soprano sax on “Splash”, “Entry”, and “Plunge”… flute and sax on “Two Memories”
Michael Stearns – acoustic and electric guitar and bass, The Beam, digital drums and percussion, samplers (E-mu and Synclavier), analog and digital synthesizers (Casio, Oberheim, Roland, Serge and Yamaha)
Photography by Ron Peterson
Original LP design by George Landry
Special thanks to Susan Harper, Sherry Black, Thom Brown, Carolyn Conger, Fred Myro and Steve Roach
All music BMI, Earth Turtle Music and Continuum Montage
© 1986 Michael Stearns
License
All rights reserved.
Michael Stearns is a multi-genre music composer and soundtrack designer/producer. His credits include music for Ron Fricke's non-verbal 70MM films "Chronos", "Baraka" and "Samsara", music for NASA, Laserium, Disney films, HBO, ABC, PBS, BBC, Discovery Channel and James Cameron's "The Abyss", "Titanic" and "Avatar". Michael works in his studio "The Guest House", in Santa Fe, New Mexico.