Terra Firma Review

 

    Tash Sultana has always injected her heart and soul into her music, formulating erotic and blissful tones through gorgeous acoustics and soulful melodies. This second album of hers, Terra Firma, is a breathtaking, beautiful project that harkens back to her indie and folk roots. That’s not to say that this record is lacking in any of the psychedelic or infatuating electronic qualities that she is known for, as Terra Firma combines her seraphic vocals and her mastery of instrumentation faultlessly throughout to be just as fantastic and dreamy as her first album Flow State. Emanating a sense of inner nostalgia and a desire to explore the spirituality of the past, present and future, the idea of the Earth and our experiences is what Tash draws on for inspiration, dazzling the listener with tracks steeped in emotion and pure, natural energy. While some tracks are slightly repetitive, this doesn’t hinder the sheer ecstasy of this album, as Tash gracefully constructs a definitive project that reaches deep into the core of the Earth, drawing out textures and features that resonate within ourselves as we reflect on our nature and journey through life with the same emotions as Tash Sultana does, longing for something simple, stable and beautiful.

    We are first graced with the track “Musk,” a piece of delightful instrumentation that is chalk full of euphoric, spacy piano synths and an excellent, mellow bassline. The track gradually adds more groovy sounds such as some smooth, jazzy horns and robust percussion as well as Tash’s signature, vibrant synthed up guitar chords. “Crop Circles” introduces us to one of the features prominent throughout this record; deeply rustic and heavily emotional acoustic guitar melodies. The cut plays on the idea of the unknown and the mysteries encountered in life, as evident on lyrics such as “Tell me where I go? Way down in the ground, right below, Will I be rotten to the core? Or will I ascend to the big white pearly doors?” With the notion of not knowing, Tash also expresses the feeling of death and the thought of an afterlife, contemplating the perpetual feeling of passing alone or perhaps the presence of a higher power to guide her and help her navigate to the life after this one. Her vocals are absolutely intoxicating on this song, emanating tones of sorrow, remorse and hope all at once. “Pretty Lady” offers even more in the way of acoustics, delivering a resplendent chord loop that is carried by subtle snares and her alluring vocals. The track is easy enough to understand conceptually, with Tash crooning about a girl who she has fallen for but wonders if she will reciprocate that feeling. “Dream My Life Away” is a brilliant cut spurred along by an elegant, four chord acoustic progression with the slightest synth quality about them. This track is slow, insightful, and beautifully laced with other acoustic notes and some excellent vocals from Tash and our first feature Josh Cashman. A significant moment on this track is the harmonizing they do throughout, executing these moments with blissful passion and unyielding euphoria. The cut explores the theme of not seizing the moment, with Tash singing “Angel watch me dream, Angel watch me sleeping, Angel watch me dream my life away.” The theme of spirituality and higher powers come into play on this track, with Tash serenading the listener with these starry, albeit sorrowful lyrics.

    This albums latter half contains some more vulnerable subject matters explored by Tash, with the first of these being present on the track “Coma.” Tash reminisces on troubling times of someone she cares for abusing drugs. This track is as luscious as they come, with the divine acoustic melodies and dreamy percussion pouring out, supported by floating synths dancing off in the distance of the instrumentation. Tash delivers pain-filled vocals such as “It was cold and dark in the middle of the night, The only thoughts for you was substance abuse, And my heart told me many things, But my head told me to stay away from you.” Tash’s vocals are ravishing but also irresistibly sad because she loves this person with all her heart, but reason is telling her that staying together will lead to her own downfall. The track changes in tone near the end, rapidly picking up in tempo and the instrumentation has become more grand and the acoustics have been replaced with intense, electric guitar synths that close out this track as if someone has awakened from a whatever this “coma” was and is now moving on in life or death. “Blame It on Society” is another track with some reflective subject matter, with Tash singing about how society tries to force people to conform to its own standards. The bassline on this cut is an amazing foundation for the other bits of instrumentation on here such as the ringing, high pitched piano chords and the delicate horn and guitar synths that creep in and out throughout this funky track. “Willow Tree” is arguably the most upbeat, exciting track on this record. The song is laced with a devilish horn loop as well as a bassline that melds gorgeously with the other synths on this cut. Tash sounds fantastic on the lyrics “And I had this vision before, When everybody comes a-knockin’ to my door, Took a moment to gather their senses, Clean the bullshit smeared right across their lenses.” She flows effortlessly throughout and this section of the track is mesmerizing and completely enchants the ears of the listener. The last cut on here “I Am Free” is symbolic of the records end, but is also representative of the way Tash feels; she has accepted her situation and all the feelings that now accompany her are in her soul. Just as the earth itself, Tash is a collection of all her experiences, and all the natural changes the earth goes through over time are just like the trials and tribulation that shape Tash into who she is, desperately longing to be at peace.

    Terra Firma is a record that never feels rushed and is scarcely hampered by its own sound. Driven by psychedelic tones and flourishing with emotions of every kind, the album is pure musical joy from front to back. The album’s title is Latin for “solid ground” and we find Tash continually exploring themes that long for a sense of stability and purpose. The songwriting and musical compositions are nothing short of spectacular and showcase the true talent of Tash Sultana. Indulging the listener with themes of connection, humanism, escapism and the spiritualty of the human race, Terra Firma is a masterful production that has us question who we are at our core and encourages reflection on the hearts and minds of those around us.  

Score: 9/10