The Witness

Over the course of their lengthy run, Montreal-based experimentalists Suuns have explored dark tones and weighty dissonance in their exciting and sometimes caustic art rock. Moody electronics have been part of their equation since the start, and rose to the forefront of many songs on the bands 2018 release Felt. Fifth album The Witness continues the evolution that was apparent on Felt, and dials back some of the frenzy for sophisticated songs that comes on subtly but still carries a thick tension. Where Felt could be erratic and jittery at times, The Witness is metered and expansive. Protracted album-opener Third Stream takes its time stretching out with a muted rhythm and an eerie bass groove before slowly opening up into delicate Auto-Tuned vocals that wander over winding chord changes. Its at once reminiscent of Another Green World-era Eno, Broadcasts more psychedelically drawn moments, and more than anything, a gentler form of how Suuns themselves have sounded before. Synth arrangements that resemble flutes and woodwinds give the song an ambient jazz feel as it twists through unexpected dynamic shifts. Theres a similarly thoughtful pace on much of the album. The tight drum groove that meets cool-headed vocals and pulsing synth bass on Witness Protection sounds like Clinic jamming with Can before the entire mix fades unexpectedly into clouds of reverb and billowing trails of guitar. The slow-moving Clarity brings in swells of exploratory double-tracked saxophone as vocalist/guitarist Ben Shemie delivers lyrics about letting go of fear and defensiveness. The lyrics are more discernible than on a lot of Suuns earlier work, and the overall energy of the track drives home how the band is taking a more deliberate, detailed approach throughout The Witness. The albums eight tracks move together in a thoughtful, even flow, but its not quite a slow burn listening experience as much as one of constant, understated movement. Uneasy moments are broken up with the pastoral beauty of Go to My Head, and the album ends with The Trilogy, a bright and complex song that combines all of the elements explored earlier on the album into an expertly constructed compact form. The Witness is a consumptive listening experience, designed with precision and purpose in the same way as the immersive albums that came before it by Portishead, Talk Talk, Radiohead, and other artists willing to take their time systematically disassembling and rebuilding their music. ~ Fred Thomas