Canadian producer/musician Jesse Somfay makes his first major release since 2009's A Catch in the Voice with Bright Black Borealis on American label Detroit Underground. Like much of the ethereal textures and ambiance heard on A Catch in the Voice, Bright Black Borealis boasts its own introspective contemplation. The title of the record, inspired by a dream Somfay once had, invokes the contradictory 'dark light' that the young producer seems to attempt to replicate through the sounds he produces. Somfay has mentioned through his own website that this record might be the last release boasting his real name; releases to follow will come under different aliases. Released March 14th, 2011, Bright Black Borealis is available in both digital and vinyl 12" formats through a number of online music distributors.
"Virga Widow," the first track on the record, evokes a scene as if one were standing outside the door of a Berlin nightclub. A thumping rhythm slowly pulls the listener into reverb-drenched pads echoing an uplifting chord progression, drawing him or her into quite the contrary scene altogether-- a scene free of material hedonism and rife with the infinite. A large break about half-way through the track makes way for shoe-gazing guitars, boasting a similar progression with a new rougher texture. The theme returns in a more rhythmic and driving force-- sending the listener into an emotional bliss torn between body and mind. It is a journey to say the least, as well as the highlight track of the four included.
But that isn't to say other tracks do not shine as well. "All Above All" combines Somfay's unique percussive style with the sound of a bouncy 303 synth line, eventually breaking into a more psychedelic theme just as the resonance of the acidic 303 almost becomes tiresome on the ears. It is almost as if Somfay is revisiting his own take on techno found in his early releases and combining with new perspectives similar to those on A Catch in the Voice.
The slowest track on the release, "Soak Scalene," evokes sampling styles similar to The Field but synthesized with more heart and soul. Somfay however does not use samples here-- the trance effect comes strictly from heavy synthesizer delays and reverbs. With the sounds filtering in and out of consciousness, it almost sounds as if the world around the listener is moving slowly in reverse.
"Drumcell Rmx" was co-produced with Moe Espinosa, AKA Drumcell. The remix is Drumcell's version of all of Somfay's percussive elements on the other three tracks. While it is an interesting listen, it lacks the coherence and fluidity of the Somfay originals-- but those are large shoes to fill. While the percussion has been reorganized in an uniquely Somfay/Drumcell way, they build nicely and eventually cave into a groove that finds a Somfay-based sound more suited for club play and less towards inward actualization.
For the last release under his name, Bright Black Borealis is a coherent and exploratory listen, likely to satisfy ears hungry for enlightenment through sound, while retaining enough under-the-sea rhythm to carry through the tonal and spiritual landscape that is Jesse Somfay.
You can buy Bright Black Borealis here:
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/417606-01.htm
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