If there is one thing that I really enjoy musically is a great mixture of guitar and electronic instrumentation. Whether it be classics like Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, the ambient recordings of The KLF or even the new age dreaminess of the music of Lanz and Speer. The new release from Kurt Michaels called Outer Worlds features elements of all of these styles of music in various forms. The album has a decidedly spacey, new age quality to it with some truly inspired guitar sections throughout. What is positively unique about Outer Worlds as a listening experience is the fact it was recorded live. Not just live in a studio mind you. These improvisational recordings were done on stage, which you would never guess at first since the recordings are so clean. There is not a bit of the airy feel of a concert recording so one can only imagine the sound comes from a direct mixing desk recording. The first three tracks were done when Michaels toured in support of The Syn, featuring Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes. This might be going out on a limb, but the music really feels like a living, breathing entity when you listen. It evolves and changes shape at random like sonic chaos theory come to life, yet with such melody that the term “chaos” doesn’t fit. It pulsates, drones and sings. It rises and falls. It breathes in a sense. Indeed, Michaels has been quoted as calling music “a force of nature” and it would seem from this release, he has helped bring to life a truly unique being and listening experience.