With Pathways, Drifting in Silence joins forces with Drew M. Geiger of E J R M. The album is strident and victorious, blazing a path forward. While still squarely within the meditative realm of ambient and drone, there is momentum to the music, a definite pace. Derrick Stembridge (the man behind Drifting in Silence) interlinks roaming piano, tender guitar, and aching strings with his signature lush pads. Like a flower blooming, the tranquil beauty of this steadily unwinding album is only more apparent in time. Drew M. Geiger of E J R M adds an overall organic texture across the album. Pathways by Drifting In Silence and E J R M is perhaps the most characterful release to date and etched within the sounds of these five tracks; there is a definite drama and a deliberate execution of various evocative scenes. The sudden arrival of guitars on “Silent Patterns II” feels like an old friend returning. The harmonics spill forth in jubilation, and the rich pads beneath swell to greet them. The shifting piano of “Pathways” acts as an eager guide, escorting the listener through the textured drones with a sense of imperative. The shaking strings of “Remember This Time” are earnest and imply an intense emotional nostalgia that spills right out of the... more