Middle Pillar Presents announces the release of ZOAR's third album: the epic and powerful Clouds Without Water. Called by the New York Times "Masters of the cinematic instrumental," ZOAR has assembled a stunning array of vocalists, including Brendan Perry, Matt Johnson, Jennifer Charles and newcomer Julie Comparini, for their dark ambient compositions. Clouds Without Water is a soundtrack that takes us to the edge of the modern abyss, a sonic painting of the beginnings of the 21st century. CWW warns us to look, but more importantly listen, to the world's fading consciousness instead of ignoring it.

The album opens with the primeval forest under attack. The destruction of Nature by technology is well underway - "The Coming Anarchy".

That theme resurfaces throughout CWW and is made manifest on "Our Way of Life". The lyrics here, an excerpt from author Charles Bowden's Blood Orchid, deals with the ancient wisdom that humans have lost, becoming completely dependent on technology for our fundamental means of survival. Matt Johnson of THE THE gives a poignant reading of this chilling reality underscored by the sadness of Erik Friedlander's cello.

ZOAR presents stories vividly brought to life through sound explorations and descriptive lyrics, particularly on the tracks "In Golden Light", a lament sung by a ghost to her lover who is still alive, and "The Rain Begins", where Death is not romantic but cold and disturbing. "Behind the Lake", based on a work by Russian poet Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966), tells of speculative fear, instinctual and unexplainable.

These tracks are beautifully performed by Julie Comparini, a longtime collaborator of ZOAR who specializes in baroque and renaissance music. Her vocals also shine on "Ashes Falling (Ol Doingo Lengai)" which contrasts the eternal aspects of nature with the ephemeral life span of human beings. The Masai People of Lake Natron, Tanzania are featured as well as world-renowned bassist Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson). "Here the Deities Approve" is a seventeenth century song, sung by Julie accompanying herself on the celesta.

Brendan Perry, singer and songwriter of DEAD CAN DANCE, brings his enormous talent to "Winter Wind", soulfully singing this existential meditation on the passage of time. On "Wakeworld", his commanding vocals seethe with emotion, driven by the aggressive guitar of Peter Rundquist. Written several months before 9/11 this epic song eerily compares the fall of the Roman Empire to present day America. Brendan also performs on bass and sagat (Arabic finger cymbals).

Jennifer Charles of ELYSIAN FIELDS, gives a startling performance on "In These Rooms", portraying a femme fatale that would frighten Mickey Spillane. Vintage film-noir style dialogue about murder combines with gothic horror elements to chill the blood.

The title track of Clouds Without Water, is the world's last gasp brought to life. Here Michael Montes creates a mood comprised of circuitry, screams and machine noise which wraps its skeletal fingers around a haunting cello melody - an animal suffocating in a poisoned atmosphere.

With their third record, ZOAR has taken their theater of the mind style and placed the world on a stage. With all the complexities of society stripped down to its essence, the child within must learn to grow or perish in the dust of modern destruction - Clouds Without Water.

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