SDS is back with what feels like his most emotionally exposed and atmospherically lucid album to date.
Cinematic ambient-gaze specialist Drew Sullivan (Slow Dancing Society) strikes once again. I fell in love with SDS’ music back in 2010 after grabbing a copy of his Under The Sodium Lights album. Those lush sound swells were impossible to resist. While so much ambient music out there is just so boring and empty, presented by the labels and artists as something esoteric and innovative in order to disguise the lack of depth, creativity and talent, SDS’ music is full of depth, movement, creativity and talent. Sure, it’s not highly innovative music, but it does contain refreshing scents, and most importantly has a unique personality, a distinctive charm. And that cannot be said on most ambient efforts out there.
Under his SDS alias Sullivan simply and continuously finds the right notes, the right sequences and textures, and blends them into this moving, warm nostalgia-drenched and straightforward mix that crashes right into the soul. In this sixth album as SDS for the lovely Hidden Shoal imprint, Sullivan continues to generate subtle yet engaging sonic movements and explores previously uncharted regions in his self-created sonic universe once again. If you are a fan of SDS’ previous outputs, you probably quite enjoy the way he uses his guitars. On The Cogent Sea there’s a lovely and hefty dose of his signature guitar style of playing, but also more synth work and electronics than on his previous outputs. The music captivatingly circulates, undulates, croons, chimes and glides. All the tracks are dynamic and full of interest and luminosity. They are relatively short, but don’t feel unfinished or hasty. Sullivan doesn’t waste time on anemic buildups, he doesn’t stretch out his tunes more than what is necessary. Therefore, each tune remains effective from start to finish and works as a revealing and evocative glimpse into the artist’s soul.
In this twelve-track ride, shades of Talk Talk, Eno, U2 and Phil Collins among others shine subtly. Sullivan is not an imitator though. One can see him more as a torch carrier, a seeker and developer of this timeless sound, driven by an urge to explore modern possibilities. He takes what he wants from whatever and whoever he wants, and creates something entirely his own. SDS is back with what feels like his most emotionally exposed and atmospherically lucid album to date.
The Cogent Sea is available on Hidden Shoal. [Bandcamp]
