The Resonance Association is an English dark ambient band formed in 2006, a duo that comprises of Daniel Vincent (lead guitars, keyboards, sequencing) and Dominic Hemy (guitars, theremin, electronics) who create music that combines emotive guitar solos, dense atmospherics and blistering industrial rhythms.
They formed over a mutual appreciation of Pink Floyd, Bass Communion, Sigur Ros, Mogwai, Porcupine Tree, and Neu! and soon started to broaden each other’s musical palette with extreme metal, ambient, and modern classical entering the mix. They have played shows with A Storm of Light, Aidan Baker, No-Man, as well as playing at the Summer’s End prog festival but appear far happier hiding in the studio making expansive instrumental music. Their latest album `Choose Euphoria` is released this month.
The album opens with `Force Majeure` which in contract law is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties. That said, here it`s a delightfully hypnotic slice of pounding prog come space rock, a kind of meld of Can and Hawkwind. There`s a much more subtle texture to `Invocation` which for me almost had a Francophile Jean-Michel Jarre vibe. A track that as it`s title suggests summons your attention.
`The State Of Things` has a quite angelic or heavenly intro and continues with an electronic pulse like heartbeat. As it evolves, we gather a sort of trippy laid-back ambience with occasional electronic strings and a forceful electro riff sprinkled throughout. It ends with a similar divine like conclusion to the opening. A recurring intricate guitar chord riff reverberates through `No Fear Of Falling` which has a militaristic / tribal drum beat underlying the floating synth like rhythms, which gives it a dreamy presence with an underlying almost tangible hint of danger.
`Some Kind` to me, had initially an almost oriental feel with a repetitive but magnetic riff running throughout while synthesised keys floated in, out, over, and around. It the latter section it became delightfully dreamlike with some shimmering complex guitar chord riffs and `Choose Euphoria` briefly sung before the track ends abruptly. There`s a driving sensation to `Trip Hazard` which races along with guitar and drums laying a rhythm for gentle synthesised sequences to shine.
`Elsewhere` is a soothing, peaceful ambient structure that does grow musically and volubly as it progresses, a fairly deep but quite captivating offering. The album closes out with `Space Time Politics` which is the longest track on the release running at over eleven minutes but considering the subject matter which touches on space treaties, law in space, international cooperation and conflict in space exploration, international economics, and the hypothetical political impact of any contact with extraterrestrial intelligence, it`s probably fitting. Indeed, the submission had a feeling of forward thrust and momentum and elements where alarms rang out, and sensations of weightlessness. A composition that conveyed the impression of an interplanetary journey or voyage.
There was much to enjoy on `Choose Euphoria` which was indeed full of exhilaration and joy as the title would imply. If you have a fondness for music that encompasses post-rock / prog and space rock, check out The Resonance Association, they will not disappoint.
Rating 8.5 /10
