barryorchestra presents 2020...A Playlist - #46.
#46. “Blend” by Submotion Orchestra
Submotion Orchestra is a seven piece band from England that has developed a unique sound stemming from the idea of taking the style of dubstep music and blending it with jazz and R&B. There are electronics used, but their primary goal was to take the dance genre of dubstep and distill it in a live context. The result is unlike anything else I’ve ever heard. My introduction to them was via a Bryson Tiller sample of their song “All Yours”. Their music has often brought me comfort and peace after a long day at work, or when I want to zone out and reflect on life.
“Blend” exemplifies what they do best on every level. Tight, crisp harmonies that are punctuated with accented echos, reverb, and the slow build of instrumentation layer by layer. The lyrics of the song explore the idea that endings are beginnings. Loss always gives way to the potential to gain something new. As somber as this song is, it maintains a sense of positivity and builds up to a beautiful instrumental breakdown before stripping back to acapella just as it started.
This is only a taste of what they are capable of. Go back to their first album “Finest Hour” and work your way up through their catalog. The amount of texture and sonic space they have created is unmatched by anything else that’s been released in the past decade.
