Album
Headspace

Subradial

Another solid ambient outing by Subradial, Headspace puts the listener in a relaxed mood, setting us free to explore our internal vistas on a warm sunny day. More rhythmically oriented than his previous releases on SLM, it nonetheless keeps that depth and serenity of his earlier work. The entire 13 track album really is a canvas of sound, each part flowing smoothly into the next one. Much more than a collection of tracks, it plunges the listener into almost a full hour of meditation.
Another solid ambient outing by Subradial, Headspace puts the listener in a relaxed mood, setting us free to explore our internal vistas on a warm sunny day. More rhythmically oriented than his previous releases on SLM, it nonetheless keeps that depth and serenity of his earlier work. The entire 13 track album really is a canvas of sound, each part flowing smoothly into the next one. Much more than a collection of tracks, it plunges the listener into almost a full hour of meditation.
Headspace opens with smatterings of distant DnB beats and vocal samples drifting in and out of consciousness, layered textures and ethereal pads. Subradial manages to seamlessly blend them together into constantly evolving soundscapes.


Release date: 10.11.2023

Label: SOMA Labs Music

Artwork: Subradial

Press release: Thomas Lundberg, Regina Volkova

The first notes of anxiety appear in the second track “Simpler Times”, which then develops with rhythmic breakbeat elements, and the long notes in the synth parts begin to prevail over the initial anxious sample and the concern gradually fades into the background. The composition reaches maximum harmony in the second part, where we hear a flute part, performed by Regina Volkova.

The track gradually transitions into the very dynamic “Parallel”, which sets the overall dynamics of the entire album until the very end. It’s followed by snippets of a sampled nature documentary with the type of soundtrack David Atten borough only wishes he could have. “Giants” introduced airy pads and pretty synth lines, contrasted by a nice little breakbeat that gives the track some real punch.

“Longing” delves deeper into dubby territories with dusty layers and effects, with a repeating synth pad keeping it all from floating apart.

On “Suburban Crush” we get some lovely instrumental hip-hop beats evolving into breaks and beyond, drenched in luscious synths and reverb.

“Next Day” is a sunny spring morning, when you wake up well-rested and open the window to smell the cold fresh air outside, and sunrays strike your face. It also has a nice beat. The flute part is again played by Regina Volkova.

Title track “Headspace” brings us back to the harsh reality of our physical existence and demands we find an answer to the question “What needs to be done now to make the next day the way we want it to be?”


The final composition puts us in an optimistic mood and very gently ends the entire album, a perfect outro to the deep meditation session of Headspace.
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