North Atlas, an alternative band from Solway Firth have released their double single ‘Hymn To The Sun’. These tracks celebrate Scottish heritage and nature. They were released on the day of Litha which is an ancient midsummer festival, marking the longest day of the year.
Straight from the beginning the first track called ‘Dawn’ draws you in with its unique sound. This song is immersive and carries an ambient sound throughout, with an overall bassy tone. The pedal helps to create this effect. As the deep, rich vocals make their way into the track they blend in, complementing the instrumentation amazingly. As the song goes on and builds there is a variety of instruments, vocal layering and harmonies which adds great depth. The acoustic, string instruments add a folk element to this track, meanwhile being blended with electric guitars, which add a rock element also. Not to mention the electronic side to this song which makes this unique sound come alive. The clearly thought out, creative production of this track is very impressive.
The second track in this pair is called ‘Dusk’. This song has the same deep, bassy tone to it. This song has many crescendos and decrescendos which effectively builds tension and is engaging to the listener. A crescendo in the middle of the song particularly stuck out to me, this begins after the title ‘Dusk’ is spoken by a deep voice. The music builds up with layers such as a heavy bass line, a punchy kick drum and creative sounds such as crow caw foley. Then introduced into this section is breathy, whispering vocals which leads the listener to the climax of the song. Incorporating elements of earthy, natural surrounding sounds into the mix makes this song have a grounded, connected feel to it.
Overall, it is clear that North Atlas have a unique, creative vision when producing their work. Making these songs come as a pair, one being called ‘Dusk’ and the other ‘Dawn’ is very innovative. These tracks complement each other, not only with their names but with the same feel musically. These songs are mixed extremely well, taking them to another level. North Atlas’ artistic abilities have shone through, as they have produced two outstanding songs. Stream their double single ‘Hymn To The Sun’ here.