Sounds Of New Soma - 2021 - Trip

(42:48; Tonzonen)

German duo SOUNDS OF NEW SOMA have been purveyors of progressive electronic music for seven years or thereabouts, releasing new material at a steady pace. Their most recent foray into electronic landscapes is called "Trip", and was released through German label Tonzonen records in the spring of 2021.

There are two main types of progressive electronic music out there, bluntly speaking, and of the two main varieties out there Sounds of New Soma belongs to the category that crafts music that is more challenging to listen to rather than the one that is more listener friendly. So for those with an interest but not extensive existing interest in this particular field, this may be worth noting.

In this case we are presented with an album consisting of a single song, clocking in at just over the 40 minute mark. This creation can, roughly speaking, be divided into three distinctly separate parts. Hence this isn't an easy listen as such, the running time in itself indicates this.

The first half or so of the composition focus more on moods and atmospheres as constants, exploring one scene and softly moving on to the next, without too much focus on conventional melodies. A slowly fluctuating organ and pulsating futuristic sounds are dominant and recurring elements, with sampled sound effects, a warm, rough saxophone, reverberating guitars as well as instrument and vocal drones making up some of the other ingredients. Cinematic in scope and orientation, atmospheric laden in sound and spirit.

The next quarter or so of this creation is the most listener friendly, relatively speaking, with an almost constant presence of melodic and rhythm providing synths of the kind that always makes me think of 70's and 80's Tangerine Dream, with occasional use of sound effects, saxophone and synthesizer textures that for me reminds of Kraftwerk and Vangelis as some of the additional elements uses in this phase.

The final quarter is initially dedicated to more expressive sounds, with a free form style saxophone solo, noise attacks and other more challenging elements leading the way, then briefly revising the more listener friendly second part aesthetic and then slowly moving from a more challenging expression again and back to the more delicate elements used to open this album - giving the listener a full circle experience if you like.

The album is really well made, and while the different phases of the album may well come with variations in overall appeal, it is easy to hear that everything has been assembled with a lot of thought and effort. All the sounds have been really well mixed together as well, every detail is finely balanced, other than the sections where it is easy to hear that an unbalanced sound was purposefully crafted. Like in the previously mentioned noise attacks.

Personally I regard this production as one with perhaps a more finite and narrow reach: Instrumental electronic progressive music of a challenging nature that clocks in beyond the 40 minute mark isn't one that generally will fill up your nearest stadium. But for those who tend to be fascinated by such ventures, this is one more album to add to the list of material to lend an ear to. Especially if you find that the more detailed descriptions given sound alluring.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, June 2021

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/SoundsOfNewSoma
https://www.tonzonen.de/