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SOHN: 'Tremors' Album Review

Ashley Hawkins |
April 8, 2014 | 9:13 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

The long-awaited album follows the release of numerous successful singles in the past couple of years. (Photo via 4ad.com)
The long-awaited album follows the release of numerous successful singles in the past couple of years. (Photo via 4ad.com)

Starting with a backbone of a simple melody composed of repeating electronic tones, “The Wheel” – SOHN’s first mainstream single released in 2012 and reissued on “Tremors” – builds over time with the subsequent additions of his high-pitched vocals then synthesized clapping-like percussion. 

Similarly, SOHN’s reputation has grown gradually over time. After the success of “The Wheel,” he played at the 2013 SXSW music festival, gaining popularity for his remixes of Lana Del Rey’s “Ride” and Rhye’s “Open.” 

By the late 2013, SOHN had already begun writing his debut album, releasing two singles that would be included on the album: the simple mellow “Bloodflows,” which displays his soulful singing over a synthesized backbeat, and the Tron-esque “Lessons.”

Finally, in February of this year, SOHN released yet another single, “Artifice” - the most baroque song of the album with layers of synthesized drums and bells.

Unsurprisingly, with the release of each successive single, hype around the debut album continued to increase. However, while most hype ends in disappointment, “Tremors” has – perhaps – even exceeded expectations. A predominately-minimalist album, “Tremors” includes songs in a variety of styles to create a diversified release.

The most similar songs on the album, “Ransom Notes,” “Lights,” and “Tremors” all highlight SOHN’s singing over a simple synthesized drum-driven background. However, even with this similarity, the songs all add something different to the album; the accenting guitar in “Ransom Notes” is the sole use of the instrument in the album, and although both “Lights” and “Tremors” feature a synthesized mallet as the dominant instrument, the former is much more up-tempo than the mellow, ballad-like latter track. 

Other synth-driven tracks on the album, “Fool” and “Veto” are incredibly diverse. While “Fool” delivers a nice contrast in the melody between the bass-heavy downbeats and the high-pitched tones, “Veto” has a much simpler, R&B vibe.

Probably the most distinctive tracks of the album are “Paralysed” and “Tempest.” The former, which includes a piano underscored by a faint, heavy synthesized background, is a gloomy sort of lullaby. Alternatively, “Tempest” – a clear standout on the album – uses auto-tuned vocals as the main backbeat at the beginning of the song shifts to an African-inspired drum rhythm around the midpoint of the song.

Although it seems like it was years in the making, “Tremors” is undeniably worth the wait.

Read more of NT’s album reviews here.

Reach Staff Reporter Ashley Hawkins here.



 

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