Album Review

Submotion Orchestra – FRAGMENTS

• 14th Sep 2012

I first heard about Submotion Orchestra whilst dubstep was casting its unruly shadow over the U.K. music scene, and they have a remained a band that intrigues me to this day. Before listening to their new offering, Fragments, I made the pre judgement that it would be ok songs, with a bit of extra token bass to still appeal to the dubstep market they dabbled in.

I am glad to say upon listening that they are as refreshing and as pleasing on the ear as they were two years ago. The songs have a groove ridden, trip hop quality to them; the vocals ooze a cool R&B style; and the production is crisp. Thankfully the dubstep bass frequencies are not the focal point of any of the songs, at least not for any amount of time, so they don’t detract away from other musical qualities that are happening, but still have enough force behind them to really add depth and a powerful enveloping warm, with a bit of an extra kick when its needed.

The highlight track for me is “Thinking”, the hi-hats in the intro make sure your head is grooving from start to finish, the track in general has a very U.K. funky or garage feel to it, but with the production slicker, to emphasise the vocals. Other tracks such as “thousand mile stare” are a bit darker, more dubstep, but still with a sharp jazz edge. My only worry for Submotion Orchestra is that they are maybe too proficient, clearly all talented musicians, but sometimes it feels like songs take a certain shape because that’s what the writer has been taught is the right way to write a song, this isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes means it lacks real soul.

However for me it is a chill out record, a great one at that too, that has really shown how Submotion Orchestra have grown, adapted and improved.