Almost two years after their last album Somatic Responses strikes again with “Digital Darkness”. The album consists of 15 brand new tracks which perfectly fit with the title of the album.  What immediately becomes clear when you start listening to the album is that this is not a groundbreaking trip into the unexplored regions of music or some other so called renewed take on industrial music. Nothing of that, instead the two brothers from Whales make a welcome return to where it al started, the roots of electronic underground music.

From cowbells and heavy 303 bass lines to straight rhythms and dry snares, all ingredients that made up the electronic music of yesterday are present. No overly complex beats and structures or overdone digital edits. Does that mean it also sounds aged? Well yes, but in a rather positive sense. Overall most of the tracks have a really oldschool vibe but with the quality of today’s standards and off course some unmistakable Somatic Responses ingredients. This makes for an interesting mix and, in contrary to what you might expect, a refreshing album.

The end result still heavily depends on how much you are used to today’s music with all its digital editing and processing. Within the bulk of new electronic music with insane details and always increasing complexity “digital darkness” may come of as a bit dry and bland on the first time. Further listening however can reveal a much richer and exiting experience as you are drawn into the album and “listening to” transforms into “feeling” the sound.