Let's face facts -- the ambient genre and its numerous subdivisions have been done to death by now. What distinguishes a good new release from the pack is its overall sound and instrumental blend, especially as this genre is more about finding the mind than the feet. This mesmerizing collaboration between synthesist Jeffrey Fayman and experimental guitar guru Robert Fripp succeeds in breaking away from the pack. It utilizes both the guitarist's looped "Frippertronics" and recalls the lush "space music" sound pioneered in the late '80s by the Hearts of Space label.

Rather than focus on linear flow, the four compositions on Temple emphasize atmosphere and texture. The album features two extended suites (the 15-minute "The Pillars of Hercules" and 31-minute title track), each followed by a shorter composition that acts as a tranquilizing coda. Indeed, the title track is very active for the ambient genre, as it summons up a surreal swirl of angelic sounds, contrasted by deep drones that hum through the mix. Fripp aficionados may be able to discern the ethereal, crystalline guitar sounds from the synths, but for most listeners, it will be a fun challenge to distinguish between the two.

Fayman & Fripp's original sounds are what ultimately validate their efforts. The duo focuses on crafting some gorgeous sonic tapestries, particularly the heavenly final track "The Stars Below," one of the most uplifting ambient works of recent memory. This Temple is worth visiting to chill out or sleep; its cinematic music is effective and trippy when one inhabits that twilight state between consciousness and dreams.