Sonic Cube

Filter

Tribal Vision (Czech Republic)

Sonic Cube is the latest project from the Sonnenvakuum duo Daniel and Ueli and, as progressive artist albums go, for the most part it’s a well-rounded and cohesive beast: having this driving, relentless force about it. Hidden opens nicely, with a phased midrange lead at its heart, accompanied by some European vocals moaning about something or other into the mic… anyway, the vocal sounds good. Otherwise, we’ve got clean escalation and a great melodic hook at the topend that’s hard to shake.

The Last Jedi is solid, gnawing prog with a darkish bent, working wonderfully up until the “I have come for the jedi” sample which, for me at least, sends things regressively back to before they started. A pity, because aside form this it’s pure phased glory all the way. Cloud Buster, however, is where it all comes together for the first time. And it’s simply gorgeous – the crunchy vibe from the bottom-half moulds perfectly into the gentler, more melodic top-half, and the deep and dubby sounds at the centre leave you powerless but to be hooked in. The final run stands out, getting those topends flying and the hairs on the back of your neck standing up like Human Blue used to in his heyday. Amnesia follows more or less the same vein, but eases off the power, letting the spaces between the sounds tell most of the story. One huge breakdown later, and it all comes back at you again with a sheer, clear, I-love-you-my-dear main run.

Test is a highly booty-friendly little feller, with more twist than a barrel of gin & tonic (slurp) almost as intoxicating. The quality here is just superb – it all hangs together brilliantly, and both the main melody riff and the acidy finale are pure classic dance music. Danger has a tight energy about it, suggesting something close to dance-before-the-police-come. Melodies aren’t to much as heard as inferred, the long breakdown flirts with the wrong side of the cheese-barrier, before (just in time) it comes back in on itself to escalate and layer its way up to an impressive finale. Microbes has a slightly flatter, more futuristic feel to it, with little glitchy flurries. It eventually picks up some balls in the shape of some simple riffs which are manipulated well – think Harthouse or Platipus and you’re on the right lines.

Similarly, X-Cute: at nine-plus minutes, it’s got a classic credibility about it, as though Jam & Spoon worked with Orbital and then got remixed by Son Kite. I can’t get enough of this one – check it out for yourself and see what I mean. Finally, and somewhat superfluous, is Astray – a chilled-out thing with a chick singing over the top. Which is missable, it’s silly, it’s a waste of space so – I’m not including this when reviewing it, seeing as I know you won’t be including it when you listen to it. All in all, this is decent stuff, make no mistake. Tribal Vision continue to go from strength to strength. While it may not have too many DJ-friendly mixable bedfellows out there, this is quality music that throws a new light on the progressive scene. We are impressed.

8