8 tracks. Running time 70:32 Stuart White in the guise of Diatonis has released another sublime work of ambience created by highly processed instruments – mainly guitar if I'm not mistaken. Like most of his other albums this one is available in 5.1 surround sound, but this review is of the stereo CD. Also available is a short DVD video. Perception is similar in style to Diatonis's previous work; the difference is that here the mood is somewhat forlorn, it has more crystalline tonalities, and more use of processed voices and choral effects. Delicate flowing drones and shards of guitar refrains like distant flashes of light get the album underway in “Merge”. As soon as this piece started up it took me to inner mindscapes and at the same time conjured up images of real landscapes of open country, broken grey skies, and far off mountains. Imagine feeling lost and moving gracefully and solemnly across such a vista and you'll have some idea of this entrancing piece. In contrast some of the tracks have a kind of oppressive quality. The most notable being the title track “Perception” which has indistinct wordless vocals and intense dark and shimmery drones that enfold the soundscape. It's got a similar feel to parts of an older album The Convolving Universe. All the tracks are excellently constructed but abstract enough that the listener can be transported to his own personal world. Another piece that works well for me is “White Sand Blue Water”. Gently bobbing drones of various tones could be thought of as the ever moving sea, while periodically sheets of sound swish and skim past. In brief sections we also hear gossamer vocals and haunting plucked guitar. Diatonis always manages to find new sonic qualities within this subgenre of ambient that few artists venture into. The release of Perception just goes to consolidate my view that Diatonis has mastered his art yet is still increasing the boundaries of his talent. Unhesitatingly recommended.