SONE INSTITUTE – A
MODEL LIFE (FRONT AND FOLLOW)
The second full length
album from Sone Institute is a grand proposition building on the momentum of
his first record Curious
Memories and bringing a whole new bag of tricks to proceedings. A Model Life is a far reaching and all
encompassing collection of crashing harmonious sounds engaging in the manner of
the finest music library.
Sone Institute is the
product from the mind of Roman Bezdyk, a modern composer and arranger
exhibiting a vibrant fountain of music knowledge. These lush, sweet sounds are the kind of easy
listening gestures that point to a calm but exotic life well lived.
Making its mark early
the record opens with what appears to be an old school acid rock freak out that
seems to be occurring in a bingo hall on the fantastically titled “Witchcraft
And Pornography”. It is a gesture that
gets repeated at the end on “Fear And Happiness” also. However between there and here a large amount
of sonic soil is covered.
All in all with its
vocal samples and verbose offerings of logic, Sone Institute provides a sound
similar to current darlings Public Broadcasting Service in addition to a clear
concordance to Broadcast. And on the
whole there is a general feel of it being some kind of lost treasure that Jonny
Trunk might find covered in dust in an archive.
Like the suspense and swing of “Frozen Leaves – Falling From Leaves”
cause me to think of a Lalo Schifrin workout.
It is the track
“Struck By A Rock” that takes the prize.
This is a truly astounding and levelling piece of music. Upon receipt of its movements my heart breaks
and traffic stops moving.
The ambiance continues
with the title track which spans a delicate moment that reminds me of a waking
Cinematic Orchestra moment containing lush tones and gestures along with a
timeless edge. It bleeds brilliant early
morning colours by emphasising stillness.
From here once again
the tone of the record changes as the appropriately named “Amoral Life” drops
in with a porno flick sounding wah, echo and bass serving to highlight the
brilliant playfulness of the work at hand.
After various moments
of strings, beats and chill the album book ends with another acid freakout in
the form of “Fear And Happiness” as truly this life has been a ride.
Here are fourteen
tracks to marvel.
Thesaurus moment:
expanse.
