Samsuo - You Probably Think It´s The Ocean
Always a good thing to review stuff from Elm Records after tons of reviews in the harsh-noise/industrial section! Everything just cools down, a dip in a forest lake in the burning summertime. A way to reset the mind and body, with just that simple plunge into the waters. And that is exactly the concept behind one of the latest albums from Elm Records.
Samsuo´s You Probably Think It´s The Ocean has a fine description on Elm Record´s Bandcamp site :
You probably Think It's The Ocean' is a meandering sonic tale that draws the listener into a complex world of texture, tone, and melody. The narrative weaves between soft shorelines and turbulent seas, crashing waves, and gentle breezes. Exploring the depth of his sonic palette Samsuo conjures a deep and immersive story perfect for the Autumnal months.
Well ok. Taking a plunge in the autumnal months is not my thing, too cold. I did that once, with heavy hangovers after a drunkard Halloween night... I then ended up taking that plunge in a lake called Stilling Sø... The perfect cure for Halloween hangovers if you ask me... Anyways!....
The first track on the album is called You. May I remind you that every track on the album is named after every word added in the title of the album itself? It starts... gentle... with a shivering sound of non-melodic but drone-based guitar strings, with some water´ish sounds in the background. Very archaic stuff here, the atmosphere is absolutely sublime. Takes me back to something from Cure´s Faith album, not as dark and depressive of course...but... delivering the same kind of melancholic and thoughtful aesthetic. Layer upon layer of repetitive string drones sounds bloody amazing! Also reminds me of some of the guitar-based ambient stuff by Controlled Bleeding.
The second track You Probably continues the echoed and reverbed guitar strings, lower on the guitar notes than the former track. More guitar layers are then added. The artist has chosen to follow up closely on whatever happened in the first track, and it´s bloody lovely because it sounds great. The emotions in the drone´ish sounds hit you like ocean waves, has a certain...rhythm to it.
The third track You Probably Think adds new stuff to the stuff. Repetitive and layered organ keyboards and some sublime and lowkey electronic rhythms. Crystalized moments are frozen in pure amber, almost forgetting in taking my breath here! Interesting synth-based ending here as well.
The fourth track You Probably Think It´s has a certain... retro and nostalgic synth-wave feeling over it. It does remind me a bit of something from Autechre´s immortal Amber release from 1994. Exquisite ambient music at its best! You just get the picture of beautiful desert dunes with this track.
The fifth track You (Gezzz) Probably Think It´s The goes back to the sound of the first two tracks. Improvised and layered guitar work with reverb and echo. Is there a synth of some sort in the background? I am not sure, but the sound intrigues the listener without a doubt! Again, the ending here is so deep and sublime!
The sixth track You Probably Think It´s the OCEAN!!! A soothing outro of a track. At this point, you have probably recovered from the hangovers you had that Halloween night. Sitting in a warm car, bus whatever, and feeling the cold sensation leaving the body while you are feeling asleep. Bingo! Cold guitar work here as well, reminds me of the saddened sound of the Red House Painters for some reason.
A perfect mixture of pure ambient and almost... sadcore kind of guitar work. I did think of the Cure, 4AD, and the Red House Painters here. Which is a sound from heaven... right?. This album does it, a 100% perfect ambient album. Adventurous with some daring nerve to top it. The sound/moment when an eccentric individual finally finds peace in mind. Highly recommendable album!....
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