‪ Onism — Photay‬

SocialDistancingSoundtrack Day 20

‪Photay’s music seems to lie at the intersection of precise harmony and natural disorder. His melodies are grown from intricate jazz chords, yet they can seem almost obvious in how satisfying they are. Almost. Just imagine playing The Everyday Push on your instrument of choice.

‪Onism, an epistemologically titled album that could seem haughty in lesser hands, is a passionate work of expression. Its sonic language is a collage of otherworldly yet organic synths, woodwinds, and mallets. He even works tastefully processed vocals into the mix on the ‪Madison McFerrin collaboration Outré Lux, a lush ode to identity. In a nontraditional way, it’s a duet. McFerrin delivers a stunning verse, and then weaves a tapestry of vocal improvisations for Photay to improvise within. The resulting soundscape is warm and inviting.

‪Brassy bursts of wind stretch and contort on the romping Balsam Massacre, a showcase for the artist’s playful take on sound design. The same explorer’s spirit powers Inharmonious Slog, on which a colorful motif builds and rises over propellant drums. At its apex, a chorus ‪of vocal chants and arpeggiated trills bursts into — ironically — a gorgeous harmony. Throughout it all, toms, shakers, and dry claps give the effect of a natural rhythm egging an explorer onward. ‬

‪Even when that pseudo-natural percussion gives way to tightly sequenced ‪909 patterns on Eco Friend, the result is compellingly raw electronic music that might be played beside a campfire. On that track, a tricky groove implies a waltz within a tightly wound downtempo. The instruments follow suit; is that a jazz piano or a grain-delayed synth? It’s remarkable, given how clearly deliberate this music is on a composition level, that it remains so accessible. If you want to give a skeptical friend an on-ramp, Off-Piste blends elements of future bass with funk-inspired chords that could’ve fit Graduation-era Kanye West.

‪Even the denser instrumentals strike somewhere closer to familiarity than might be expected. Closing track Bombogenesis begins as a nearly club-ready house shuffle, then blooms into soaring strings that could be welcome in an adventure film’s score. Despite its complex ‪parts, the album never feels condescending. It’s a soundtrack for a streaming-era taste, presenting its vast ideas without any pretense but to share. Approach this music with an open mind to new perspectives, and Onism will quickly begin to make sense. ‬