Search - So :: So

Splintering Soul

rottenjohnny | Madison, WI | 04/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not familiar with Oval. I know OF him, since I'm a fan of much electronic music, but have never given him a chance. Some have described him as "difficult listening," advising that he's trying to appeal to some mysterious demographic. So, when I heard that he teamed up with a Japanese folk singer (and a woman, which further insures its prettiness) on his new project So, I figured there would be a better sense of attraction upon listening to this album. Listening to the sound samples provided by Amazon.com, I was able to at least get an idea of what I was in for. That's really all I got, one single idea. Listen to the hazy vocals, warped under with sweeping digital effects, on the second track. Those haunted me until the next morning when I was able to obtain the cd, which, upon further exploration of the track, the mood only intensified. What did they remind me of? God only knows. Screechy synthesizers stumble drunkenly into the track, threatening to overbear it, until realizing their own intrusiveness and agree to help things out by leaving. Only to forget why in a few short minutes. The following tracks offer much of the same, with a consistent stirring mood but coming up with very different ways of playing it out. Some feed directly off of a repetitive guitar line while stirring in tin whistles and decelerated sirens, others draw breaths from the vocalist, deciphering her lyrics with feelings and textures while synths freefall into rockpiles. None of this is unpleasant, either. In fact, it's quite sublime. I haven't stopped listening to this in days. It is better than any Pole album, lap-top folk attempt, or clicks-and-cuts track I have ever heard. This is sincere, soulful emotion bleeding through an unnatural auburn gauze, looking for someone to listen to."