Dwayne Sodahberk
Cut Open

LA RECENSIONE

It was partly by chance, partly by luck, that I found myself holding this album, and in my opinion, it’s worth giving it a listen.

If Dwayne Sodahberk's previous works ("Don’t Want To Know" and "Unfortunately") were focused on experimental electronics and might be a bit difficult for those not familiar with the genre, with "Cut Open," the music changes. The opening "Cambiocorsa" is a clear example. In its brief three minutes, it encapsulates a bit of the essence of what awaits us with the album's listening. The electronics eclipse, making way for acoustic-pop-folkish sounds, with glitch, noise, and electric discharges ("Open Cuts") still present, but now in the background, giving life to a much more digestible work.

The album, released on May 1, 2006, by Tigerbeat6 (whose flagship is undoubtedly Kid 606), is dotted with 15 ballads, full of dreamy acoustic melodies, with the exception of "710," the only purely folktronic episode, where glitches and synths prevail. "White Hand" and "Tell When You Wak" are examples of refined Indie-pop. "Late Summer", on the other hand, exudes sweet melancholy. Dwayne Sodahberk sings and plays various instruments almost throughout, with the contribution of some guests: Liz Hysen (Picastro) above all, who sings on three songs and plays the violin, Mariah Kihlberg (Revlon 9), who lends her voice to two tracks, and Per Hellquist (who also accompanies him during live performances).

I won't bore you/myself here with more chatter about the similarities with other artists and influences of the album, a little mystery to pique curiosity seems like the best choice. It won't be a milestone, perhaps it won't mark any turning point, and it won’t be a reference, but, in my very humble opinion, it remains a highly enjoyable album.
All that's left is to wish you a good listening experience.