The role of the producer has expanded in recent years. Not content with adding their trademark
sounds to the songs of others, many are now releasing their own debut albums to
become stars in their own right. But
what happens when the producer goes it alone?
Can a producer provide the necessary star quality, or is it little more
than a demo tape labelled “please employ me”?
London/Vienna-based producer SOHN (a.k.a Christopher Taylor) is the
man behind the hits of breakthrough artist Banks, darling of the blogs. In addition he’s produced for Kwabs (see the moody
Last Stand) and has remixed a number
of other tracks. Now he’s going it alone
with his debut album ‘Tremors’.
SOHN’s work with Banks has defined her sultry, sensual
electro R&B sound that’s become so popular and it’s a sound that continues
in his own work. Clearly inspired by the
minimalism of James Blake, the moodiness of The Weeknd and the sombre R&B
of Jamie Woon, ‘Tremors’ is all subdued beats, moody synths and falsetto
vocals. If that sounds familiar it’s
because it is – this is an utterly contemporary (even derivative) body of work
that doesn’t particularly push the boundaries.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t some excellent work here though: the
slow-burning opener Tempest; the Thom
Yorke layers of Artifice; the
seductive tones of Bloodflows; the
deep house feel of Lights; and, best
of all, the mesmeric title track that
closes the album.
Taylor’s delicate vocals are certainly heartfelt, as on the
otherwise out-of-place piano ballad Paralysed. As a whole, though, the album lacks star
quality to bring it together. Just as
Dev Hynes’ album ‘Cupid Deluxe’ as Blood Orange felt somewhat like a Solange
album without Solange, ‘Tremors’ somewhat feels like a Banks album but without
Banks. The difference is that Hynes’
sound is far more unique and forward thinking, able (just about) to carry the
album alone.
The other major disappointment with ‘Tremors’ is that some
of SOHN’s best work is missing. A quick
look on his SoundCloud page reveals a string of tracks left off the album: the
likes of Red Lines, Warnings and Oscillate. Why these weren’t
included is a mystery.
The result is an album that has its moments, but feels more
like a producer’s album than that of a true star and never quite surpasses the
work of his influences.
3/5
Listen: 'Tremors' is available now.
