Review: Shlohmo - Dark Red
By Sammi Nelson, Blogs Editor
[True Panther/Wedidit; 2015]
Rating: 3.5/5
Key Tracks: “Buried,” “Emerge From Smoke,” “Apathy”
Imagine a shadowy pool of some dark, thick liquid. The landscape surrounding the pool is a displacing shade of dark grey, and white fog swirls in intricate patterns above the liquid’s surface.
Now imagine a light beginning to rise in the background. That light soon begins to glow a recognizably golden hue--it’s the sun. Morning has arrived and begins to brighten and change the eerie landscape into a more welcoming, peaceful dwelling where the background is glowing and the unidentified liquid is revealed to be simply water. A transition has occurred.
This is the effect L.A. musician Henry Laufer, under the stage name Shlohmo, has produced with his sophomore studio album, Dark Red.
Shlohmo’s electronic sound is characteristically ambient, avant-garde, distorted and excellently produced. The quality of the music isn’t surprising considering Laufer has been making music since the ripe age of 14. As a senior in high school in 2008, Laufer co-founded Wedidit Collective, which is an internet label that consists of several L.A. artists such as Groundislava and D33J.
Now with two studio albums and seven EPs, Shlohmo continues to develop, tweak and improve his production and musical abilities.
Dark Red acts as a transition for the producer. His previous work speaks of more tranquil, relaxing moments. Bad Vibes, the 2011 predecessor to Dark Red, is an album that better suits chill-out sessions in the comfort of a bedroom. Now, with Dark Red, it’s more likely people will play the album while they contemplate a tragedy.
The album is dark, yet it has moments of peaking hope in its tones. “Buried” is one track in particular that features this phenomenon. Its low, booming growls echo in the beginning and grow with a certain anxiety before higher, anguishing, synthesized guitar notes begin to pluck and tremor.
“Emerge From Smoke” transitions from “Buried” just as the sun illuminates the dark landscape. It’s not a hopeful sound, but it certainly drags the listener out of the abyss that “Buried” creates.
The song is heavily induced with electronic whirs of high notes over low drones. At the climax, a synthesized trumpet-like sound builds with intensity, which makes “Emerge From Smoke” sound like a warrior’s song. Perhaps Shlohmo is calling the listener to rise from the darkness and continue fighting whatever it is that holds them back; however, the rest of the album implies they have a long way to go.
“Apathy” slips back into that feeling of hopelessness. It opens with buzzing low notes and ringing high notes before a beat is introduced that’s liable to make listeners want to sway along to the sound. D33J, who is also an ambient electronic musician, is featured in the production.
In a Q&A with Aaron Frank for Passion of the Weiss, Laufer revealed some personal issues he’s dealt with since releasing Bad Vibes. He mentions the issues he had with Def Jam Recordings as well as grief and loss in his family. Much of it is enough to influence the dark, immersive sound present in Dark Red.
Shlohmo won’t disappoint listeners with his new effort. Though the album is certainly contrasted against his previous work in mood and tone, the innovation and uniqueness that exists within his music is just as prominent as before, if not more. It might be a creepy transition, but it’s definitely an exciting one.
