On their new album, ‘The Cost of Living‘ , Somni has managed to craft a sound so pillowy and lush that it makes real life feel a bit too high-definition and loud. It’s “lo-fi” in the way a five-star spa is relaxing as fuck, every crackle, hiss, and muffled vocal feels like it was placed there by a sonic interior designer with impeccable taste.
On ‘The Cost of Living‘, Somni blends acoustic flutter with electronic tweaked-out beats so seamlessly that you’ll forget whether you’re listening to a folk record or a very talented GoBot having a peaceful dream. Somni has made a big improvement since their last record with this more raw/ analog meets inteli-indie pop sound; displaying the true talents of this talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to stare out a rain-streaked window and pretend you’re the protagonist of an indie movie about a person who is a full-time employee at the business of chill.
While the whole project is a vibe-heavy masterpiece, three tracks from ‘The Cost of Living‘ truly jump out to give you a gentle hug. “Gamble” is a standout where Somni uses tape loops and Casiotone drums to create a groove so steady it could stabilize a shaky table. At the same time “Sing To Me” immediately tucks you in with its warm, acoustic-leaning production. Finally, “Meteor” offers a shimmering display of the signature Somni style that feels like watching a shooting star in slow motion; it’s the ultimate closer for an album that feels like a warm, fuzzy blanket for your ears. All in all, ‘The Cost of Living’ is one of the best experimental/lo-fi/indie pop albums that is out today. You need to consume the album as a whole and not just an album with a couple “hit” songs on it. So, Grab some gummies, play “Planet Earth” or “Nova” or whatever on the TV on mute, and give this album a spin…. it’s a lovely afternoon.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/somnibeats
https://somnibeats.bandcamp.com/album/the-cost-of-living
https://fofmusic.lnk.to/TheCostOfLiving