Blending prog electronic tension, restrained club energy, and immersive urban atmospheres, Sinemis’s Farewell is less about moving bodies than about pulling the listener deeper into its futuristic inner world.
Cold futures rendered in synths
On her very own label, Injazero, Sinemis displays a collection of futuristic electronic tunes. Crossing lines between prog electronic and IDM, Sinemis manages to depict an atmosphere I’m very fond of. Farwell has a very urban feel, and the fact that only rarely do the rhythms become properly groovy also helps the record feel more immersive than danceable. Most tracks rely on progressions or atmospheric components more than they do on rhythm, but the drums are quite hefty nonetheless.
The album kicks off with its best tunes. The opener, “It’s Not Fate, It’s You,” is one of the more intriguing pieces, as its arpeggiated synthesizers make it progress tensely. That is until the tension is released with the second track, “Exit Democracy,” which builds itself up in a similar way; the big difference is that in its last third it booms with a solid rhythm section, with the kick being noticeably punchy. It’s one of the most thrilling parts of the LP, given that it’s a sudden shift.
“Unsee” might be my favorite, because even though it may not stand out as much as the first two tracks, I do think it’s the most enjoyable from start to finish. Then, the following tracks lean more on the ambient side of things; the IDM-influenced rhythms fade away, leaving a lot more space for synth pads and arpeggiated leads. That is most evident in “How to Lose a Country,” one of the more immersive tracks.
Urban atmospheres in progressive electronics ::
“Us vs Them” brings back the drums, with an industrial groove. The tune is surprisingly groovy, making it a standout among the other percussion-driven tracks. Synths also become acid at times, making the track a very futuristic techno jam, but a jam nonetheless. The title track ultimately finishes off on the atmospheric side, but, similarly to “Unsee,” I find it to be one of the more enjoyable ones. Its progressive structure ends the record on a high note, with the leading synth constantly repeating an ascending phrase as the background gets denser, until the very end.
There are lots of records I’ve heard in the past couple of years that would fit in the same category as Farewell, and most of them are definitely to my liking. This latest effort from Sinemis does not shy away from that group, as, even if never mind-blowing, it is thoroughly enjoyable and immersive. The tracks present some interesting structures, making each one quite memorable and effective on its own.
Farewell is available on Injazero. [Bandcamp]
