Near The Parenthesis - Of Soft Construction
[n5MD]

San Francisco’s Near The Parenthesis offers up a real lesson in restraint on his sophomore release “Of Soft Construction”, blending a sound that floats gently somewhere between Boards of Canada's nostalgic textures and Bola's euphoric, melodic style. The project of Tim Arndt, his compositions are as welcome as a light ocean breeze during a scorching hot day and seem to reflect the calm deep blue waters of the album’s beautiful cover.

His gentle, undulating brand of electronica is laden with over-lapping, celestial melodies that ebbs with discreet samples of radio station crackles, chilled chatter and distant playground sounds.

Highlights are plentiful, from the sentimental “Open Sources” to the timeless “Mare Nostrum”, a track that creates a feeling of being suspended and almost motionless. “Sitting in a Room” raises the tempo slightly, with throbbing synth bass and reinforced beats. But it is still gift-wrapped in gorgeous echoic chimes. Much of the album runs like this, with beautiful tones cascading like a waterfall amidst the soft rhythms, evident on tracks such as the dream-like “Trailing” and “The Language Explosion”.

With crisp production, complimented by cushioned synth pads and lightly distorted samples, “Of Soft Construction” runs like a tranquil soundtrack for those who prefer to sidestep the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Track Listing:

01. It's Not Even Midnight
02. Mare Nostrum
03. The Language Explosion
04. Litnum
05. The World Is Inside You Now
06. Open Sources
07. Trailing
08. A Little Damaged
09. Sitting In A Room
10. For, From
11. This Morning