Fans of classic nature films like Baraka, Chronos, and Koyaanisquatsi, will marvel at this DVD. Time of the Earth is multifaceted, mystical, subtle, timeless, and most of all, remarkably attractive. Time of the Earth communicates on a profound level that cannot be comprehended through language. This is a film that can only be comprehended in its insightfulness and awe-inspiring significance on a much deeper, intuitive level, demonstrating the unrestrained power of nature. Roach and Lazur are accustomed to the limitation of human speech, as they create this slowly evolving, wordless journey into this dreamtime existence. This DVD is a glimpse of the fascinating southwestern desert in all its diversity. The film offers panoramic glimpses of nature at its most serene and pastoral state, from the primal beauty of the southwestern deserts, to breathtaking glimpses of cascading waterfalls and powerful ocean waves breaking on a beach in the Pacific Northwest during a spectacular sunset. Time of the Earth exemplifies primordial nature long before human existence. The careful editing and sequencing of every segment are deliberate throughout, and magnificently presented. Steve Lazur spent over three years shooting film, which eventually became distilled down to 77 minutes. If a single picture is worth a thousand words, then the thousands of visual images contained in Time of the Earthcould easily fill a library.

The enormity of the epic rock sculptures, and sun-scorched canyons sweep over you with breathtaking power. Like many paramount works of art, Time of the Earth suggests a direction, which is more profound than the object of your observation. If the sufi poet, Rumi created a modern-day film, instead of his inspired state of rapture in his words and poetry, his thoughts might be perfectly captured in a film such as this. Life on this planet is short-lived, and has much to expound. Time of the Earth scrapes the surface of existance that many of us never experience, and gives a glimpse of the megalithic world beneath. Complimented by a stirring soundtrack by legendary composer, Steve Roach, the film augments my deepest emotions every time I watch it. The music is perfectly timed to the scenes, and the combination makes for a wonderfully calming experience. This DVD is a must for anyone looking for something worthwhile and insightful, and a conscious experience that delights all the senses. The only dialog is one developed between the mind and heart of the viewer. It is a contemporary look at the relationship between people and place. Much of the photography is slow-motion or time-lapse footage of landscapes, ethereal clouds, and panoramic desert vistas, enhanced by Steve Roach's mesmerizing tribal-ambient score. Time of the Earth is profoundly abundant in beauty and detail. With each viewing it shifts in the mind's eye, and becomes a new and different film. You can breathe the air, squint at the sun, and feel dwarfed by the towering mountain peaks and endless sky, the moment you enter the immediacy of this experience. Time itself becomes relative. This film in many ways is like a poem written with images and sound, and one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences I've seen in DVD format. Highly recommended.
-Ben Kettlewell

Shadowed by red rock peaks and cascading plateaus, slivers of the sunís light peak through onto a bare, and lifeless desert landscape; softly, and subtly, a contemplative ambient soundscape rises above the threshold of audibility, warm atmospherics and breathy fades build into a captivating sound/ visual experience. This is how the Projekt DVD release, Time of the Earth, opens. Time of the Earth is a collaboration between filmmaker, Steve Lazur, whose previous film, Terrestrial Odyssey, was a top-seller released by Miramar on video and laser disk in the early ë90s, and pioneering ambient composer Steve Roach, whose prolific work, spanning well over 50 recordings, has earned him the highest accolades and three AFIM indie awards. With stark visual images and sonorous ambient soundscapes, Lazur and Roach set out to capture the mystical essence of the desertís barren landscape. Roachís soundtrack ambiences and earthy sonic atmospheres superbly aid the beautifully rich desert landscape visuals that Lazur has put down on film here. Advance screenings of Time of the Earth have inspired comparisons to the Earth-nature portions of the non-dialogue films Chronos, Baraka and Koyaanisqatsi. Roachís background ambient treatments and lush chordings paired with Lazurís visuals flow seamlessly and naturally. Time of the Earth is a perfect blending of two separate, and distinctly different mediums, into one, expertly produced cohesive whole. Time of the Earth consists of 77 minutes of quality, uninterrupted, mind enhancing ambient sounds and dreamy visuals. Lazur and Roachís collaborative blending of sound and vision makes for a captivating and profoundly transcendental audio/ visual experience. - matt borghi

History is packed with film directors with acute eyes for landscape John Ford and mythical obsession with Monument Valley, Ron Fricke and his epic, earthroving work on Baraka and Chronos ), and of course Robert Flaherty in the North and South (Louisiana Story). Steve Lazur's Time of the Earth falls into distinguished line with all three. Trained on the American West's intoxicating gorges, hypnotic declivities, and nigh-unearthly kaleidoscopic rock clumps, Lazur's camera continually ferrets out the reasons why so many science fiction movies find convincingly uncanny terrain there. Set to an otherworldly score by Steve Roach, Time pulses with the snarling beat of life itself, seemingly transfiguring all that it touches. The rocks, brush, clouds and sky eventually give some hint of eternity, via the push-pull advance and return of consciousness. The DVD offers the option of switching between a suite of Roach songs or one, exclusive epic one called The Dream Circle. Chas Turner

This DVD release by Projekt Records is an engaging look at the earth, as it existed thousands of years ago, undefiled in its splendor. Steve Lazur, an obvious filmmaker, toiled for 3 years to create a stunning visual movement of landscape. From the opening scenes of cloud movements and sunrise to the splashing sea and a gorgeous sunset, we are treated to a visceral view of timeless nature. Hauntingly portrayed at every angle, the contrasted movement of time against the solidity of time's creations brings a heavy sense of mortality while encapsulating the perfection and magnificence of eternity. The result is similar in effect to Koyaanisquatsi.

The 77 minutes of spectacular footage, filmed in 16mm, is engaging all by itself. However, ambient master Steve Roach provides a soundtrack of unearthly beauty to complement the montage of shaped stone, unrelenting sun and liquid power. Roach supports this visual feast with stirring sounds of passage, of immensity and of eerie grandeur, which add power to the film. Every note becomes a creature upon whose back you fly as you journey through the lands. The music is a smorgasbord of unrelated pieces that come from previously released recordings over the years. Gleaned from Projekt CD releases as well as Timeroom, Fortuna, Asphodal and Interchill releases of Steve Roach's vast library, the ambient power seeps into the heart and invents a refreshed outlook.

There is a bonus here - not only do you get an additional, unreleased track from Steve Roach, but also a separate, full-length audio track. The track, an additional 73 minute soundscape (also from Steve Roach) called The Dream Circle, is accessible by switching to audio track two, by pressing the audio button on your remote.

The colors in the video are brilliant and capture every nuance of nature's palette. This disc could have suffered from a poor transfer, but special care was given to insure that the intensity of this piece would not be marred by color disorientation. The video is rendered in the 4x3 mode (or 1.33:1 aspect ratio), and therefore isn't blessed with an anamorphic widescreen treatment. To be fair, this does not hurt the presentation. The audio quality is also good in a solid Dolby Digital 2.0. While this disc doesn't offer much in the way of extras, it provides exactly what it sets out to in terms of presentation quality.

Time of the Earth is a nicely immersive addition to your musical DVD library, whether you wish to view the film or simply shut off the visuals, lay back in your easy chair and become absorbed by the entrancing collection of music. Matt Rowe