Sonic Gap - Copperman
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Sonic Gap’s Copperman is a dark, dramatic journey that tells a cinematic story of a damaged, twisted man and his revenge on those for whom he blames for his ruin. Sonic Gap unfurls this tale in intensely interwoven synth vignettes that evoke rage, pain, violence and loss. I enjoy the way in which this tale is told through sound and musical intensity.
Atmosphere soaks every track of Copperman and I enjoy the way that Sonic Gap is able to evoke the moods and sensations of his story. There’s seething darkness filling the synths, along with a palpable sense of pain and a ferocious desire for revenge. The way in which all of the auditory elements interact creates cinematic mental imagery for me.
Sonic Gap does an excellent job of layering synth sounds on Copperman. All of the synths have been well chosen and combined to create powerful emotion and sensation. There are slashing attacks, growing danger and moments of melancholy all captured by the varied tonal and timbral elements within the sounds Sonic Gap uses on the album.
I am enamoured of audio storytelling and this music does it well. Each track sets the scene and as a whole they frame it in vivid imagery. Sonic Gap has woven together many threads into an engaging and entertaining tapestry.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Copperman” starts as one decisive chord pounds in along with a ragged-edged oscillation that rushes forward. Dramatic, metallic piano-like synth leaps in tense bursts that weave shadow in minor key motion as giant drums throb like a heartbeat. The piano-like synth feels portentous and full of dark omen in the most deeply pleasing way.
Ethereally gliding sounds slip in the distance and the drumbeat is unrelenting. Bass roils as the widely sweeping piano creates a dangerous sensation. The steady backing drone adds to a feeling of expectant threat that permeates the track. Tumbling, jagged synth slices and silence falls.
Gritty, powerful bass growls as medium-high, string-like synth drifts in a haunting melodic pattern to open “Ready To Meet.” Clean snare drum throbs as a bell rings. Bass snarls as the arpeggiating, ghostly notes float and slip past while drums pulsate.
Sharp-edged, elevated synth carries a melody that effectively conveys loss and uncertainty as broad arpeggios spin out and drums shape the track. Rapidly tumbling, metallic notes fall through and the medium-high lead synth melody wanders as raised, flashing synth part sings out.
Chimes flicker and swirling, clean-edged synth revolves as the pained, nervous melody glides past. The ragged low end and shaping drums press on while aching emotion pours out before we end.
“Copper Mine Abyss” starts as unique, varied percussion throbs out in hollow-voiced motion as a kick drum forms a steady heartbeat. Elevated, sharply skipping synth trips along as gruff, massive bass rises with dominant power.
The kick drum keeps on shaping the music as a broken synth is now joined by triumphantly flaring chords. The heavy bass pushes on further and majestic synth blares out as the percussion interlocks and silence falls.
Oscillating, seething synth with a bubbling sensation to it creaks and groans as a kick drum pounds to begin “Acid Etch Of Malevolence.” A crunchy synth roils as a snare drum ticks and it cuts in with an oddly rubbery bending sound
Now lambently flaring synth pulsates in a swirling pattern. There’s a harsh feeling in the synth as the drums and bass create motion that surges onward. I can almost see the acid malevolence burning, evil and hungry, as it pours out in a vitriolic rush to eat away at the world.
“The Factory” commences as hissing, rattling industrial sounds echo into vast open space as threatening bass actively moves. Percussion throbs and taut synth notes flit past in nervous motion. Sonic Gap skillfully contrasts the elevated synth’s worried trickle with crushing low end weight as soft-edged chords add luminance to the music.
There is a mechanistic feeling to the low end while it repetitively pulsates. Now the music floats into a segment in which rapidly sparkling synth trips past as scraping sounds reverberate into space. The percussion presses on while shadowy bass shifts and bright chords leap as the entangling high synth fades into softly sibilant notes.
A steady bass undulation is joined by thudding kick drum as a rapidly scudding sound echoes to open “Mission To Mask.” After a swirling howl, a bending synth twists and cries out in a dramatically active melodic pattern while the battering low end pushes hard.
Elevated, mistily sweeping synth swirls smoothly as the relentlessly guiding drums and bass move onward. High, intertwining synth slips past with a feeling of tension wound into it, expectant motion about to erupt as the hard-hitting drums and dynamic bass keep pulsating into silence.
“Vengeful Hunt” begins as a rebounding kick drum punches in and delicately slipping synth drifts in the distance. Radiant notes briefly flicker as rising chords add a majestic sensation and the low end keeps throbbing.
Hollow panpipe notes quickly jump into the music as the brilliant chords glow brightly and a wonderful nobility fills them. Now open-voiced synth is touched with trickling notes as it trails past and the drums and bass pulse on before falling into quiet.
Weighty kick drum throbs as a tumbling bass rush creates intense motion as "Face Of Retribution” starts. Trailing, diaphanous synth circles and a snare drum joins in to add form.
Airy notes spin smoothly in a pattern imbued with something unsettling as scintillating, elevated synth effectively creates a rising feeling of danger and nerves as the percussion contributes to the crushing sensation that fills the track.
Conclusion
Copperman is a filmic tale told with sound. The music’s cinematic nature is quite well done as far as I’m concerned. Sonic Gap does a first rate job of laying out a story and then pulling me into it with his evocative composition and synth choices.
