Steve Moore deserves a lot of credit. Not only did he help usher in the horror soundtrack revival with his band Zombi, but his early solo albums, such as 2007's The Henge, explored Berlin School synth music and new age long before hip labels were reissuing Software and Iasos records. After devoting a large chunk of the 2010s to writing scores for actual horror films (the best of which remains 2016's exemplary The Mind's Eye), Beloved Exile is Moore's first proper solo album since 2013's Spectrum Spools-issued Pangaea Ultima. Immediately, the album feels like one of the most spiritually informed works he's ever produced. Opener "Your Sentries Will Be Met with Force" features the enchanting vocals of Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi, who adds a sublime new dimension to Moore's glowing, pulsating electronics. On much of the rest of the album, Moore is joined by master harpist Mary Lattimore. Her graceful playing complements the ebbing and flowing organ minimalism of "In the Shelter of the Dunes," and while it's undoubtedly calmer than much of Moore's repertoire, there's still a bit of underlying tension carrying over from his soundtrack work. Following the shimmering, midtempo ambient techno of the album's title cut, "Throne Lane" is a much lonelier trek, yet Lattimore's harp and the subtle details of Moore's sound design keep the piece sounding airy and fresh, rather than trapped in a dungeon. The 15-minute rolling epic "My Time Among the Snake Lords" has more of a desert plain atmosphere, with Jeff Gretz providing distant cymbal rushes and other percussive details. A ticking pulse and trickily timed bassline emerge, and Lattimore's harp adds harmony to Moore's hypnotic prog rock guitar melody. Beloved Exile contains some of Moore's most meditative music, while also maintaining the fantasy element present throughout his work.
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