Sonic Frontiers Review

Sonic Frontiers Review

Some Kind Of New Age-Innuendo...Where we let ourselves swell

For those of you who don't know him, Craig Murphy is the UK's answer for spatial construction and explorative swelling. He is best known for his ambient-electronic call sign: Solipsism, where he takes on the role of a DIY-architect, mapping his ‘self’ through spectral schematics and artistic reflections. His synthesis supplied in layers, his waves encompassing back to front, as mild glitch slightly spills into the mix.

Now, in 2008, Solipsism brings us his newest divulgence: Solarism. An ambient mix of heavily reverberated drum loops, swooning keys, and distant echoes reminiscent of a large gymnasium; Craig Murphy has finally supplied us with the next installment in his electronic progression as Solipsism. A brief ambient opus supplied in retrograde motion.

Released by the incestuous DIY label, Ambidextrous Records, this five track EP is Solipsism’s most unified effort thus far. The album pivots with the beautifully arranged epilogue “Sun Up”, an ambient and emotional sprawl that leaves you with a warm sense of tranquility and profound motivation to hit the Solarism replay button.

Following suit of the common 21st century DIY ethic; Solarism is available for free at the label's web site. (Though you should financially support these kind of endeavors whenever possible!) And the best part is Ambidextrous Records provide us with a small online archive of all the various Craig Murphy musical incarnations. He is a contributing member of the psychedelic folk band Shoosh, and the mastermind behind the ambient-soundtrack-composition project: Weird Fields, which is self-described as "…a deft juxtaposition of digital and analogue synths that culminates a unique blend of abrasive warmth, tranquility and darkness."

Solarism is a truly auspicious album. This is a release that you can let wash over you, or just as easily be taken in by Solipsism’s well-focused attention to production detail. A sparingly evident “cut-and-paste” feeling sometimes arises within tracks. However the unified feeling of the album as a whole leaves little room for mild individual song criticism. Nonetheless, the subtleties on Solarism are endless and Solipsism has delivered a very interesting and creative sophomore release.