Album- Torus
Artist- Sub Focus
Sub Focus is a English electronic music producer who has
slowly been rising in his musical appeal, with 2013 being a good year for the
artist with a couple of top twenty hits in the UK and his album, Torus,
reaching number 11 in the UK album charts. The artist still has a way to go
before becoming a household name in the music industry, and (although he might
not want to) he still has a way to go to gain an international following. But
is Torus actually a gem of an album that could actually deserve bigger success
than it has?
Track 1- Torus
Title track and album opener Torus is more of a slow burning
intro to the record that was initially designed as an introduction of the
artists live sets. The song has this apocalyptic, tense feel that builds drama
and sets things up for the listener to expect grand things from the record. The
track features some rumbling bass and frenzied electro rhythms that build to
towards this intense dubstep breakdown that will definitely excite the artist’s
fans at live shows. The quirky opening dialogue of add a cool cinematic feel to
the track, and the only real issue here is that at nearly 6 minutes in length
the track kind of simmers out in energy levels before it should, and would have
just worked better if the last minute or so was condensed.
3.5/5
Track 2- Safe In
Sound
Featuring uncredited vocals by Julian Benetta, Safe In Sound
was one of the earliest recorded tracks for the record. The song finds Benetta
in this kind of apocalyptic state where things aren’t going right around him,
but him and his partner are safe within the music. The lyrics are potent in
their way but the chorus isn’t quite catchy enough for it to be the sole
lyrical component of the track. The sampling of an Irish folk song adds a cool
haunting element to the music, whilst Benetta’s vocal is strong in its wispy
way where he conveys this sense of pleasure mixed with melancholy. Production
wise the track features a cool blend of heavy hitting dubstep rhythms and razor
sharp synth notes for a sound that is equally as dramatic and melancholic as
the lyrics and vocals, whilst still being forceful and vibrant enough for the
artists primary audience.
3.5/5
Track 3- Endorphins
(featuring Alex Clare)
Initially featuring various female vocalists before the
arrival of British singer- songwriter Alex Clare, Endorphins is a romantically
intense affair featuring rumbling dance beats and an almost aggressive and
melancholic tone. The song focuses on Clare wishing for this girl to want him
and the fact that he doesn’t feel good enough for her, even though he cares so
deeply. The weariness of the verses is nicely offset by the passion of the
chorus, and Clare’s vocals nicely bring this essence of being consumed by love,
with his naturally gritty tone really complimenting the simplicity of the dance
sound around him The rumbling beats and build up to the post chorus dance
moment is good, but when the beat kicks in for you to rave about to it doesn’t
quite hit you with the force that it should.
3.5/5
Track 4- Out the Blue
(featuring Alice Gold)
Out of the Blue is another song that features a cool vocal
from an English singer-songwriter that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to be
collaborating on a dance track. The song is all about how love is this thing
that is magical and unexpected, and whilst once again we just have a simple
lyrical composition of primarily the chorus and a few other lines, this time it
works and the chorus really grabs your attention. This is really because of the
awesome vocal that Alice Gold gives, bringing this airiness to the track that
is still full of depth and nailing the emotional sentiment of the lyrics with
the restraint and control of her vocals. The production features some
shimmering synths and a euphoric sensibility that works really well, and at
this point in the record we definitely are given a more uplifting tune,
although the melancholic weariness is still there and still works really well.
3.5/5
Track 5- Twilight
Twilight is one of the more understated pieces of the set
that allows you to take a rest from the dance/dubstep craziness and revel in
the songs ambience. The song’s lyrics find an uncredited male vocal waiting for
this magical twilight, with the vocal having a soothing quality that nicely
blends with the clattering, chilled synth tones of the track, making this a
cool sort of interlude within the record.
3.5/5
Track 6- Close
(featuring MNEK)
Rising British singer-songwriter MNEK lends his soulful
vocals to Close, a song all about love, in which MNEK feels this love that is
like a dream and there is just this beautiful attraction between MNEK and this
partner when they are so close to each other. MNEK is definitely the selling
point for this song, giving us this soulful vocal that has this sensual edge
and which brings a cool old school vibe to the track that would make it an
awesome song to hear in a club setting. The style of the synth percussion and
the simmering energy of the dance production creates this cool energy to the
track that gives us a pure and simple dance tune not riding on the wave of
bland dance rhythms that characterises the work of some DJ’s.
3.5/5
Track 7- Turn It
Around (featuring Kele)
Fifth single Turn It Around is a relationship based number
featuring vocals from Bloc Party lead singer Kele. The song finds Kele telling
this person that he does not know what has been said about the two of them, but
they can turn the relationship around and become stronger. The soft build of
Kele’s vocals is smooth and enjoyable to listen to, whilst the passion of the
lyrics is catchy even if the composition is a bit too simple with the use of
repetition. The fuzzy dance rhythms of the track with the heavy dubstep beats
and clicking synth notes is fun if a bit safe and too obviously Sub Focus at
this point.
3/5
Track 8- Out of Reach
(featuring Jayelldee)
Out of Reach changes things up from the stomping dance feel
of the previous track to slightly more of an ambient song with an island vibe
and a rock feel. The song finds guest vocalist Jayelldee singing of how she is
out of reach with this person as time has gone by and they have become
different people. The lyrics are simple and sweet albeit too repetitive, whilst
Jayelldee gives us a smooth and light vocal performance that to me reminds me
of singers of the 80’s, having a distinctive tone that is fun to hear. But once
again Sub Focus makes sure that he is centre stage with the production,
blending the typical array of synths and drum n bass with some electric guitar
and tinny percussion that just gives the song this euphoric quality that is
really lovely to hear.
3.5/5
Track 9- Falling Down
(featuring Kenzie May)
Lead single Falling Down was released almost two years
before the actual album and features vocals from London based singer-songwriter
Kenzie May. A typical synth track with a drum n bass style, the synth hook of
the track was interestingly initially designed for music group Skrilliex. Indeed
the dubstep breakdown makes the song sound like it could be a Skrillex tune,
but whilst that is this case, it does not mean this is a negative quality.
Rather it shows that Sub Focus can deliver different types of interesting
production. Kenzie May’s vocals are light and simple whilst the lyrics just
create a central, catchy quality to the song, but the track is a bit lyrically
sparse, and will be more appreciated by listeners who just love to hear more
instrumental, production led material.
3.5/5
Track 10- Turn Back
Time
With Turn Back Time Sub Focus gives us a track that harks
back to the 90’s, as the song as a 90’s rave sound in terms of the bleeping
electronic notes and the lush piano line. The song features smooth and rich
vocals from uncredited singer Yolanda Quartey, who provides us with a
performance that feels like it has been taken straight from the 90’s. The song
is lyrically simple as Quartey expresses the wish to turn back time in order to
be with this person. The message of turning back time is funny and intriguing
against the songs throwback sound, and what Sub Focus does is brilliant, as he
creates a song that is fresh and exciting, but which also feels like a
well-known classic.
4/5
Track 11- You Make It
Batter (featuring Culture Shock & TC)
Reportedly one of the last songs recorded for the album, You
Make It Better is a simple drum n bass number from the artist with a nice hook
and good vocal performance from featured artist TC. The song focuses on TC
singing about how this person makes them feel like everything is alright and
that they will be ok. The vocals are layered nicely and act as the songs
powerful centre against the sea of swirling electro notes and heavy beats, but
the track could do with a few more lyrics, as this time round the production
doesn’t have quite enough power to keep you totally engaged with the music.
3/5
Track 12- Tidal Wave
(featuring Alpines)
Being the singer’s highest charting track at the time of its
release, Tidal Wave is a lush dance tune that deserved its success. The track
is lyrically a romantically inclined tune in which guest artist Alpines sings
of how this person cannot just give their feelings away like it is nothing, and
they just want to break this person’s armour and feel their love collide. The lyrics
are simple but poetic and rich, whilst Alpines provides a light and passionate
vocal performance that gives the song a rich quality and which embeds the track
in this state of euphoria. But Sub Focus is great with the production in that
the stomping drum and bass breakdown and the shimmering tone of the synth notes
creates an equally as euphoric essence to the song, making this a complete
package that you can just lose yourself to.
4.5/5
Track 13- Until the
End (featuring Foxes)
Final track Until the End features rising stars Foxes, and
was reportedly inspired by the soundtrack to the 2011 film Drive. Here we find
Foxes singing of how she wants this person to promise they will be there for
them until the end. The lyrics could be better but the repetitive hook is
catchy, whilst Foxes provides us with a distinctive and airy vocal performance
that perfectly works with the songs moody sound. Sub Focus provide us with a
great sound for the song with his blend of thumping bass and 80’s styled
synths, creating a euphoric and moody track that acts as the perfect finish for
the record.
3.5/5
Final Review
Torus is a well-designed dance music album that sees Sub
Focus combine his great sound with a distinctive array of great guest
vocalists. The DJ produces a good blend of synth and drum n bass led songs that
work well as a cohesive piece, whilst each of the guest vocalists provide rich
vocal performance that meld with the songs lyrical sensibilities. The lyrics
are tightly structured and catchy, although at times things are lyrically
sparse, and sometimes the production can feel a little bland. But on the whole
we have an album that feels like a complete musical journey, and which shows that
Sub Focus is better than his peers and deserves more success.
7.5/10
Best Track- Tidal
Waves (featuring Alpines)
Worst Track- You Make
It Better (featuring Culture Shock & TC)
No comments:
Post a Comment