Samarah- These Things

Artist: Samarah
CD Title: These Things EP
Label: self-released
Reviewer: Joshua Heinrich
Date: 9/9/05

Delving into experimental minimalist electronic psychedelia, Samarah shines on her new 12-minute, 4-song EP, These Things. Shuffling, popping electronic percussion and experimental ambient soundscapes crafted from subtle electronics and found sounds form the backdrop for Samarah's reverb-drenched, subdued vocals and whispers. It's a unique sound that oddly contradicts itself, sterile yet organic, sparse yet busy.

The opening "Blame it on the Rain" (not even close to a Milli Vanilli cover, mind you), is a blend of ethereal swells and noise that slowly coagulates to form percussive loops beneath Samarah's sultry vocals, sonically distorting and evolving throughout. "With You" is a bit sparser but far more haunting, simple piano melodies, what appears to be a music box, and clicking, intricate percussion against spacious, distant processed vocals. "One in the Same" relies more heavily on processing than the other tracks here, underlying synths and piano melodies accenting ever-changing loops and chopped up vocals. "Pale Honey (Slow Honey Mix)", on the other hand, is a bit more sonically dense, a lush synth string foundation at it's heart creating a moody ethereal piece.

Likely to appeal mainly to those with more experimental tastes (others may find…say…"One in the Same" more comparable to a skipping CD than traditional music), These Things is a sonically interesting blend of minimalism and sound manipulation. Its sometimes haunting ethereal qualities will also likely prove pleasing to ambient/ethereal listeners. As a whole, it's a fairly strong and original 12-minute outing that's worth a listen.