Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Sonarpilot’s burgeoning music career, which has provided critics and fans with a lot of really brilliant and discussion-worthy content in the last year alone, has been making waves well beyond his home in the underground, and it’s almost solely because of his incredibly endearing creativity in the studio. His latest release, the boldly stylized “Kronos,” is perhaps his most biting and introspective yet, and though its crushing synthetic element might be a bit more indulgent than that of some ambient releases, this music is anything but selfish.
“Kronos,” to me, personifies Sonarpilot’s duality as a songwriter perfectly. The music is a little stock, somewhat rigid in its execution, but the tone and mood of its melody are startlingly sharp. His arrangements are the real bread and butter of his work, and project a very clear picture of his emotions in this track. Some critics might say that his persona is a little fragmented, but I see it as being layered and enigmatic, unfolding before our very ears as we take in his sumptuous cocktail of tonality and expression.
The transition between the second act and the conclusion is a pivotal moment in this single. Spellbinding us in the ebb and flow of its volume, the song rips us away from the stoic beats and takes us straight into the epicenter of emotionality, which pulls us into a vortex of gorgeous notes that dissolve as quickly as they come to life. The most common flaws that I find in contemporary experimental songs exist within the creator’s attempt to make a peak explode into a kaleidoscopic display, but Sonarpilot doesn’t face this kind of strife in his singles; at least none that he’s released so far.
Perhaps the most intriguing attribute that this player brings with him to the table isn’t his showmanship nor his conceptualism; it’s his craftsmanship as a musician, which is aided by that of the producer in this single. This approach is exactly the kind of creative backdrop that Sonarpilot needs right now; together they balance out some of the more abstract narratives in his songs and make more straightforward tracks like this one feel like hits even before they enter the charts. Not enough can be said about the thinly applied layer of polish that the mix provides here, which is tight enough to make the song consistent but relaxed enough to let this artist be himself.
It’s not his most swaggering single and I doubt it’s going to serve as his ultimate swansong, but Sonarpilot’s “Kronos” is a surreal glimpse at what he can accomplish when he has all the right tools in front of him. With a tad more definition in the instrumental portions of his music I think he’d be able to take on all sorts of venues, both open-air spots and tightly packed clubs alike, with the same confidence that he has in the studio. He’s onto something good here, and I look forward to seeing what he does with it before the year has come to a finish.
Babette Cook
