REVIEW: Montreal’s SOMBRA Finds A Balance On New Album “Free From Interruption”
7.5/10
As the distortion slows in the opening moments of “Are You Well?”, Montreal-based indie artist Matthew Cataldo makes a strong introduction. His haunting vocals, which are best described as a mixture of Thom Yorke and Damon Albarn, cruise over a crushing industrial bass line and swelling synthesizers; it’s an exciting first impression.
Performing as SOMBRA, Free From Interruption is the multi-instrumentalist’s first full-length release, a format that he appreciates for its ability to tell stories. “Since I was young I loved tumbling through boxes of my parents records”, Cataldo shares. “Even today, something about a full LP always captivated me, the journey from song to song was something I was fascinated in and wanted to immerse myself in. In a world where its so easy to have a short attention span, it felt like the wrong marketing decision to put my attention towards an album. But it also felt like the story I wanted to tell, and it was a personal accomplishment I wanted to make“.
Fortunately, trusting his instincts is why Free From Interruption is such a strong debut. As Cataldo has always been one to find freedom in solitude, both the album’s title and content provide a gateway into his creative psyche. Consider the aforementioned “Are You Well?” – written overnight in 12 hours after being accidentally locked in studio. He was battling depression at the time, and the incident proved to be meditational and inspiring, “feeling strangely freed by my forced confinement…Eventually finding the key to leave the next morning was the stressful part because the negativity and issues I was facing on the outside were able to race back into my mind“.
And while the outside world seems to become more and more stressful, Free From Interruption provides a buffer and a place to process complicated emotions. The explosiveness of some tracks balance out the more hypnotic and cyclical ones, providing both an immersive and responsive reaction. The closing moments of “Sheer Symmetry” and “Cycles” act like a volcano of synthesizer-drench emotions, starting off with a calming sense of ease before shifting into blistering instrumentation.
Those moments of course-changing musicality stand out courtesy of the synthesizers, effects, and artificial textures that give extra padding to the songs; reshaping the alternative rock melodies with electronica and industrial influences, similar to the likes of Radiohead or Atoms for Peace, “Are You Well?”, “onthewrongfloor”, and “Interruption” being note-worthy examples. And hidden within the shadows of wobbling synthesizers and clockwork percussion is Cataldo’s mind, spilling out into different shapes throughout the album. He explains:
“The album is like a soundtrack to an all out war on my personal psyche, with the goal of achieving some sort of utopian equilibrium. But as it reaches its culmination, the theme begins to shift from an envy of this utopia, towards a disdain for it. The separation between our inner voice and our actions is one which only makes us more human and in accepting that, only then can we be Free From Interruption”.
New wave and synth-pop come out on “Inside My Collar”, as his internal voice dips itself into the psychedelic colours of his music. “Sheer Symmetry” and “Cycles” once again play into the industrial stylings of Atoms For Peace, as SOMBRA lets himself be vulnerable on the former but not without sharp-edged instrumentation.
Free From Interruption is an exciting and compelling release thanks to its experimental and alternative stylings, and Cataldo’s exploration of emotions and their connection to music. It will be exciting to see how the music of SOMBRA progresses.
Stream the full album below:
