Teo Salfinger’s latest record is a necessary piece. It contrasts life, it reflects society, and it offers solace. The lengthy instrumental record from the German artist is a still lake amidst a city in chaos. It’s delectably mellow, calm and measured to the point where you feel absolutely at rest and in a complete sense of ease. Going through Out Of Sough is an experience in centring, in finding your inner calm and purpose. It starts almost entirely hushed, with restrained sounds and very subtle sonic elements building with progressive intent but without immediately discernible or loud intentions. Slowly, the orchestral arrangements start to grow in scope and measure, brushing broadly over the canvass and having you feel enveloped over moments and minutes.
Using restrained and mellow piano sounds while starting to incorporate subtle electronic elements in and around the track’s start to become more and more overwhelming to the listener. But this isn’t in an unsettling way whatsoever. It’s like being wrapped in a blanket of warmth more tightly as the air around you gets increasingly colder and more chilled. An undeniably cinematic record, Out Of Sough wouldn’t feel out of place with each track serving as a score for a tense moment or montage in a more dramatic movie. A piece like “Demur”, which was written in memory of the unfulfilled things, has you yearning to recover your regrets. It undeniably leaves you scorned for your missed chances but also leaves you feeling renewed in your hope for a better tomorrow and what new opportunities may hold. The subtle and creeping piano section that picks up in pace and direction towards the half point really gives the piece increased focus with meticulous precision.
It’s not an album that you want to rush through, it’s a record you want to hear when you’re yearning for focus and purpose. Calmness never felt so easily achieved.