- Four releases into his Tokyo series, the Seoul-based producer S.O.N.S has made his name applying a lo-fi gauze to styles like trance, breakbeat and downtempo. His identity remains unclear, but the aesthetic is charming, as is his humour. (He sells his records through a website called amazingporncatvideos.com.) Artwork and track titles place the music in the stylised world of sci-fi anime, evoking neon skies and choreographed fight sequences. Despite the promising setup, though, some blows on his new hour-long double EP fail to land.
Though he draws from high-octane club music, S.O.N.S' work is often subdued, focusing mostly on atmosphere. The arpeggios that fizz through "The Dawn" gesture at a huge pay-off, but the structure is all foreplay, with no rhythm other than an occasional kick. On "Falling Apart," a breakbeat is pared down to a brisk skip, focusing attention on the eerie synth washes. Even the 303 barrage on "Lifetimes (Odyssey I Mix)" sounds more suited to astral projection than the dance floor. The focus on atmospherics sometimes strays into indulgence, and the marshy field recordings of "Drum 03" and the 17-minute "The Prophecy" outstay their welcome. The clarity of S.O.N.S' vision is still impressive, so watch for his next release as the project finally moves beyond Tokyo.
TracklistA1 The Dawn
A2 Drum 03 feat. Dude F
B1 Falling Apart
B2 Lifetimes (Odyssey I Mix)
C1 Oblivious Sun
C2 Okubo (Tokyo Decadence Mix)
D1 The Prophecy