Sohn’s debut album arrives bearing the burden of buzz, with his recent production exploits - notably for alt-R&B star of the future Banks - adding to the hype generated by The Wheel’s appearance a couple of years back.
‘Tremors’ is an assured bow, an electro record rooted in atmospheric darkness and capable of stirring displays of emotion. It’s enough to just about distinguish the Vienna-based laptop auteur in a crowded field, with his grasp of ‘80s synth-pop balanced by an affinity with James Blake, Massive Attack and even indie darlings like Grizzly Bear.
Topping each of the textured compositions here are Sohn’s smooth vocals, which elevate some of the more introverted moments just as they add an intriguing layer of warmth to lyrics that are sometimes anything but. “Sharpen your knives for me,” he sings on Bloodflows. “Infiltrate the mind, the body.”
Throughout there is a sense of being cut adrift, whether in a romantic sense or in broader existential terms, and also a deep well of body imagery, from last breaths on The Wheel, twisted intestines and blocked throats on Paralyse and the titular blood flows.
It’s all very dense, sometimes suffocatingly so. Breaks in the clouds are few and while the atmospherics are beautifully maintained, there are times when his influences are writ large enough to overshadow some distinctive quirks in his sound. A couple of rays of sunshine here and there wouldn’t go amiss.
Taken as a whole, though, ‘Tremors’ is a ringing endorsement of the hype machine’s selection process. Its appeal is a little complicated at times, but all the best pop songs make you stop in your tracks and go back for more.
Sohn Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu April 17 2014 - LONDON Village Underground
Fri September 12 2014 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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