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- CD
(Soma/Stomp)
Having built a name for themselves on the Soma roster since ‘98 Silicone Soul’s Craig Morrison and Graeme Reedie deliver their brand spanking second album Staring Into Space. With more than a healthy dose of electro infused sounds around at the moment, this album is a nice chance to hear some of the more organic techno sounds on offer.
Wearing a range of their Jamaican, funk, soul, disco and electro influences on their sleeves, the pair has actually incorporated vocalists, guitarists, saxophone players and trumpet session musicians. Opening with warm organic jazz house oriented sounds, they move progressively intro dreamy space-tech elements, electro disco, monster funk (Les Nocturnes) and progressive techno. Folie A Deux, which incorporates a French sound and classic strings samples, uses emotive key patterns and gives a nostalgic feel, while a vocal tease wishing for, “no poverty in the world,” poignantly juxtaposes against deep techno sounds. There’s also a touch of dub, tech and trance on Inferno, with dreamy vocal delays and echo effects.
Changing direction, Feeling Blue, a vocal house or garage number, jam packed with disco strings, which is slated to be the next single follows. It’s no surprise as it’s the most commercial-sounding track on the album, and you see it being the next club hit – with people from different walks of life relating to the words, “feeling blue, everyone once in a while,” and pissed secretaries singing along without much effort. Feeling Blue also reunites the duo with Louise Marshall, the vocalist who sang on their previous smash hit Right On. Alternately, Smoke & Mirrors, the other single, cruises with funky guitar, underlying conga beats and vocal whispers. Similarly, You Can’t Lose What You Never Had, a soulful love song, also covers even more accessible and laid back territory for the duo.
Next, Under A Werewolf Moon pops in, almost taking you back to an early ‘90s rave, although there are some classy sounds and elements, there is a touch of the generic. In contrast, the contemporary, but nostalgic skanking funk of Room 666 At The Deadly Hotel is bound to get any soul brother pouting, nodding, shaking his head to the moody trumpet or skulking around like a panther. Stepping up a notch, Burning Sands draws on classic sounds such as the guitar effects heavily used by U2 on Under A Blood Red Sky. Similarly, Poisoner’s Diary also touches back to the ‘80s, but with classic new wave electro sounds and relying heavily on lyrics, not unlike our own Infusion.
Silicone Soul’s continued approach for tight polished production and nice melodies maintains their good sense for musicianship. With emotional and soaring deep tech and house sounds with tasty dynamic house bass lines, funky guitars mixed with techno and electro sounds this album is sure to grown on you with more listens as it did me.
