How are you? Who is Max Corbacho? How did you become an ambient artist?

Max Corbacho is simply a human being. The question of who I am is the fundamental question of our life. We are here to remember who we are. So, I’m on it! My relationship with ambient music, began when I heard the great pioneers in the genre such as Steve Roach, Robert Rich and Vidna Obmana., among others.

 How is music important in your life?

Music is a form of expression closer to me. In fact any artistic expression, it is. However, the music contains the essence of all and above all, has the ability to introduce us to the great and ineffable mystery of our existence as any other.

Your music induces very spiritual experiences. What emotions do you want to share with your music?

I would like to convey the feeling that everything is within us. The entire universe is hidden deep in there. Often we spend our lives complaining about everything that happens in the world but nobody want to change anything in ourselves. Is the approach we have followed since man is man. Changing everything around us. But we continue like 40,000 years ago. We have gone through thousands of revolutions, wars and conflicts. But we continue like 40,000 years ago. Change, first, ourselves. It is the key. If you change, the world changes. There is only one revolution possible, the Individual Revolution. The world is a reflection of ourselves.

I hope in the emergence of a new global consciousness from the belief that all, are one. Everything is connected.

 Where do you get inspiration? Which artists did influence your music?

The inspiration is so volatile that it is difficult to answer this question. Sometimes you must, stay one night in the desert to find it, climb a mountain, and others, comes as you wash the dishes. The question is, why come to us when we are in the desert one night? Well, because at that time, we are ourselves, with nothing, free from the tyranny of our thoughts (which, coincidentally, always refer to past or future, ever, to present). It is in the absence of such a tyranny that we are ourselves. And we are free to create. We must remain at the present moment, minute by minute. The inspiration will be with us. Climbing a mountain or doing the dishes.

There are many artists that influence my music. But fundamentally, on the classical side, Bach, Debussy, Stravinsky and all symphonists of the 20th century.

In the field of jazz, of course Miles Davis, and all masters of the genre.

In electronic music, the great German pioneers, Klaus Shulze, Tangerine Dream, and in the ambient – space music, Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Vidna Obmana and Michael Stearns.

 Let´s take a look on your music. You´ve released 9 albums. Which one do you like most? Which one is most important for you and why?

Well, to be honest, I think the work that has made me reach a large number of fans, is «The Talisman». I think not because it is better or worse than others but because, somehow, was an album that all my listeners were waiting, and hit an incredible way with the public.

Recently, your new album Ars Lucis was released. Together with it, your two older albums The Resonant Memory Of Earth and BreathStream were rereleased on CD. Can you tell us shortly about each one of your re-release?

Yes, BreathStream first was released as a digital download-only delivery, at full CD quality through Musiczeit. But during one year, I received many emails from listeners who, I confess, like me, love the physical format, and complaining about the inability to achieve BreathStream on CD. That claim made me decide to edit them in CD format.

 And on «The Resonant Memory of Earth», is one of my old works in Space for Music and out of stock. He continued to have high demand, so, too, have made a reissue on our label, ad21music. This time, remastered in 24 bit and with some changes to the artwork.

What is your relationship to eastern spiritual techniques like yoga or meditation in it´s many variants?

Yes, for years I practice yoga and meditation. Thousands of years ago that this knowledge is there, as the only way to free ourselves from our ego, and get to be ourselves. I am an avid reader of Eastern philosophies, but do not stay in the simple reading, because they are only the finger pointing to the moon, not the moon. To make this wisdom, penetrate within, we must practice.

Which synthetizers do you prefer? Do you like pure analog sound, or do you use also digital and software tools and instruments?

I confess that I never had an analog synthesizer. But yes, I have one of that called Analog Modeling, for example, my Korg Z1. I’ve never been an analog purist, I do not like fundamentalism. Surely if ever falls into my hands on a Yamaha CS80 will not say No! I love them! but has not given the opportunity and, frankly, I know friends who have sold them because they are not easy to maintain. My current setup consists of:

• – Korg Triton Extreme
• – Korg Triton (Classic)
• – Korg Z1 expanded
• – Novation Supernova
• – Soundcraft Mixer
• – Lexicon PCM 80 reverb

 And an assortment of software sequencers and plug-ins. Most of my music is based on my hardware synths. Although I’ve tried, I could not get comfortable with software synthesizers. I’m an old man!

 What are your future plans?

Always continue creating music. It is my vehicle of life. I hope to have this opportunity for very long time. Currently collects new techniques in composition, harmony, and at the level of editing sounds on synthesizers, samplers, etc. Always investigate before starting a new project. I like to offer new things, but always in my style.

Max Corbacho is back again with a beautiful ambient album that express a deep sense of connection and unity.

Try to breath the gentle sounds floating in the air as if your lungs have thousands of little ears. Allow this fresh energy to enter into your body and mind and keep the stream. Soon the music takes you out of your bonderies, in the luminous space, where is no day, nor night, no form, nor colour.Follow the great breath, step into the temple of dissolution and surrender to the Pure Being. BreathStream album invites us to embrace Immanence and Transcendence, the fullness and the void and to discover a deeper reality through a sublime musical experience that will leave you breathless.

I really like the direction Max Corbacho has taken with his most recent releases, The Talisman and now BreathStream. He seems to be delving deeper and deeper into pure floating music – no rhythm or melody at all, just serene calm tones that thoroughly soothe and placate. BreathStream is a particularly focused work on the art of diffuse sound, as contrary as that may seem. Track titles are very appropriate; “Act of Light” has a shimmer and sheen to it; “The Great Breath” seems to echo into infinity. Perhaps the most delicate and subtle of the lot is “No Day nor Night.” The beauty is in the way Corbacho makes something special out of next-to-nothingness. The challenge is for me as a reviewer describing this minimal musical excellence. Suffice to say if you enjoy ambient music as a means of escape or relaxation, look no further than BreathStream.

© 2008 Phil Derby / Electroambient Space

«BreathStream» is the first of a series of releases made available as digital download only. The sonic content is described by the Max Corbacho as «seven atmospheric spaces built out of synthetic textures and floating harmonies” which also graced the previous album «The Talisman». This 73-minute work indeed is a great outing in expansive spacious realms, both contemplative as smooth, gently wandering through long form spheres and infinite otherworldly spaces. The continuous flow of quiet soundscapes sparkles from time to time, as it takes another turn before drifting into another outreach of space vistas. All in all, “BreathStream” offers carefully moulded and layered dreamspheres that can compete with those of ”The Talisman”.Highly recommended for fans who love the floating tapestries of Thom Brennan, Steve Roach and alike.The album is available from MusicZeit, iTunes, Amazon, Rapsody and Napster.

Bert Strolenberg

Nuevo trabajo de Max Corbacho, el fantástico compositor español, alumno aventajado de Steve Roach.

«BreathStream» es el titulo de este nuevo disco, un trabajo que continúa la senda marcada por su anterior disco «The Talisman».

Este compositor es un hombre que siempre nos ha sorprendido por la profundidad de sus composiciones, esos acercamientos a esos lugares subterráneos, oscuros, en ocasiones difíciles de llegar a ellos, pero que Max consigue transportarnos de manera excepcional a través de su música. «BreathStream» no es una excepción, es un disco donde el compositor a través de sus texturas y sus harmonías nos va trasladando por lugares inimaginables, por paisajes profundos y oscuros, por lo más profundo de nuestro ser.

Aquí nos encontramos más de setenta minutos de música repartidos en siete temas de sonidos profundos, siete temas de esos sonidos que solo músicos como Max Corbacho nos saben aportar y es que en este trabajo, con solo leer el título y comenzar a escuchar el primer tema («This Luminous Space») ya nos sirve para hacernos una clara idea de lo que aquí nos vamos a encontrar.

Magnífico disco para todos aquellos seguidores de esos sonidos más profundos y oscuros, que nos sirven para viajar por el espacio o para sumergirnos en lo más profundo de nuestro ser.