SOHN - Tremors

SOHN
Tremors
7 April 2014
4AD

4 stars out of 5

 

SOHN is the pseudonym of English singer and electronic musician Christopher Taylor. Tremors is his debut LP, released on the legendary label 4AD (cue heavenly church choir “ahhs” and glowing gold halo over the label’s name). Taylor has a soulful voice (he’s probably compared to James Blake every few minutes) and some interesting ideas concerning production, but most important is his good pop song writing sense that holds everything on Tremors together.

“The Wheel” is almost four minutes of near perfection—though first released as a single in 2012, it still sounds just as fresh now as it did then. “Artifice” is a good example of the solid pop song structure which forms the basis of Taylor’s compositions, while the music is created out of many interesting little pieces of electronic textures. “Lights” is a more straight forward electro-New Waver, with hints of Bronski Beat in the vocal melody and 2-step in the beat. “Veto” and “Lessons” are a couple of great bitter takes on love gone bad.

While James Blake is an obvious comparison, it might be Kanye West whose spirit is most present in Taylor’s production and songwriting. Tracks like “Tempest” and “Tremors” could just as easily back West’s egoist raps as they do Taylor’s electro-soul exercises in angst. Granted, tracks like “Bloodflows” and “Ransom Notes” are decidedly un-Kanye-like, so you can probably discount my suggestion above as the ramblings of someone who needs more sleep in his routine and less ramen in his diet. Regardless, Tremors is an exciting debut and should turn a few heads in 2014.

reviewed by Richard Krueger