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Review: Shawn Lee - Synthesizers in Space [Album]

ESL Music // "A steady trek across familiar aural landscapes - synthesizers lacks conviction"

by BenG_Writes, July 22nd, 2012 and has been Read 881 times.
Last Edited by: Ffion Davies July 23rd, 2012.

Returning with another smorgasbord of styles to span every conceivable genre is Shawn Lee, with his new album Synthesizers in Space. Unfortunately, unlike previous offerings, there just isn't enough here to keep the listener in orbit.

Synthesizers in Space is undeniably a Shawn Lee piece, hazy riffs with crisp percussion work alongside some of the weirdest sounding instruments ever encountered, but that still can't rescue the record from just being a slightly mundane walk through the many influences of Shawn Lee.



The album is actually based around a synthesizer like instrument that features in every track. This is great for some tracks, with 'Low Riders in Space' an ecclesiastical journey, filtering dub/trip-hop sensibilities through Shawn's unique perspective. If the entire album had stayed in this vein, rather than trying to delve into several other genres, synthesizers could have been one of the most compelling albums of 2012.

WATCH // 'Low Riders in Space'

The eclectic mix of styles, including hip hop, dub, free form jazz and post-rock allows the album to expand out, but it feels too thinly spread, never quite reaching the musical avenues it seemed to be heading towards. Synthesizers in Space shares many similarities with the Beastie Boys instrumental work-but it lacks the unique appeal that holds your interest when listening to the Beastie Boys or Bonobo. Rather than a psychedelic journey through the brain of Shawn Lee, the album feels more like a confused trudge through a tired mind.

'Galactica' begins with a promising beat and intricate bassline, however it never grows beyond that, at least not in the way you would hope. Rather than building to a tumultuous conclusion, it seems that each instrument waits patiently in line for it's own performance, before sinking from the track never to be heard again.

Like all Shawn Lee albums there are some moments of brilliance here, 'Bossa Nova Seela' shows the steady build in pace usually associated with post-rock poster boys 'Boards of Canada', while 'Jupiter's Jam' is an impressive piece of psych-hop, blending the experimental simplicity of an artist like Blockhead with the confident beat of a seasoned hip-hop producer. 'Head Up', too, is an excellent slice of dance rock, part Daft Punk part Hidden Orchestra, but entirely Shawn Lee. If the entire album had held such intrigue in it's bars then Synthesizers in Space would have been one of the finest albums this year.

WATCH // 'Head Up'

Sadly the album as a whole lacks focus and will fail to hold the interest of even the most avid Shawn Lee fan right through to the final track. There are some musical gems hidden here, it's just a case of sorting the drab from the inspired.

Synthesizers in Space is released July 24th on ESL Records