One can never be quite sure where the Somatic Responses target will be pointed next, however, its trajectory is usually set to molten sound-escapes that bend, contort and reform known (and unknown) structures.
John & Paul Healy (better known as the prolific Somatic Responses duo) have scorched sound for over a decade with numerous releases on a variety of highly-respected global imprints. As the brothers continue to stamp their name in the catalogs of astute listeners, they’ve always had a penchant for darkened electrical activity—dipping into a smorgasbord of experimental electronic manifests and pushing forward in their own distinctive direction. Known for shaping complex audio architecture with discernible focus, Sketches is their latest musical avalanche, released on their own Photon Emissions digital imprint.
One can never be quite sure where the Somatic Responses target will be pointed next, however, its trajectory is usually set to molten sound-escapes that bend, contort and reform known (and unknown) structures. Such is the case with Sketches, perhaps best described as a compendium of audible extracts defining a creative mechanical music trove.
As wrinkled rhythms flicker into and out of focus, Autechrean soil is tilled on tracks like “14th D-String” and “Fgee1” where data streams are squashed into low-end crunchy blasts. “A Hopeless Drama” elicits psychedelic-percussive grit in an Aphex Twin styled shift as “Out Of Phase (But You’ll Never Know…)” trods down darkened click-hop corridors. “Travel Advice (Eat Around the Egg)” slithers around downtempo lava flows, its bassline and acrobatic acoustic dives back in time and forward again via rubbery synth squabbles. “Non-Mellotronica” weaves its magic in morphed and devolved forms—ambient layers, scratched synths and burnt noise boxes are pierced and prodded to no end.
There’s quite a bit to consume on Sketches, an elaborate fracture showcasing Somatic Responses’ sonic artillery. And rather than setting out to bludgeon the ears, the duo cleanses the palette with leftfield glitch and truncated electrical slabs. A solid album to start with if you haven’t already dived into SR’s lengthy catalog.
Sketches is available on Bandcamp.
