Review Summary: Desolate yet beautifully conceived.
Unitary is the work of one man, something not entirely unheard of in electronic genres. The cover art of
Safe From Harm tells a tale of a man relatively alone against the elements, and somehow Johan Hansson has managed to weave that concept into his latest work. The soundscape painted throughout
Safe From Harm refrains from being entirely cold yet contains enough of a depressed bite to make listeners be able to empathize with Hansson's direction. Chillingly beautiful,
Safe From Harm is one of the most surprising releases in the genre this year.
The aptly named "Cold" begins Hansson's journey; simple percussion accompanied by long, drawn out pulses of sound merge with relatively frantic synths welcome the listener. As the vocals begin the sense of urgency takes a step back the line "in the sign of the bleak star, drifting in timeless haze on the trail" begins it's bleak transition into the audiences imagination. The vocals are relatively monotone but not to the extent of others in the genre, the emotion found in Hanssons voice fits the landscape of his homeland; beautiful and harsh. "Cold" is as relentless as the terms definition, the chorus of "My empty stays (the cold embrace), poison dreams that weigh me down, but I can't be broken, I can't be broken. My saving grace (the cold embrace) solitude won't harm me now I can't be broken, I won't be broken" is anthemic to the pain and solitude of the album; it is truly gorgeous.
Hansson has also managed to make each track distinct while retaining the delightful bleakness of "Cold"; "Renitent" "Zenith" and "Repair" feature some of the fastest synth and drum work found on the album, and though this only means that each track barely reaches out of mid-tempo it is a nice touch nonetheless. The piano intro on "Woven Heart" is simply divine, here the beauty of the keys melds with that of the low bass line and the simple, subdued percussion. "Der Perfekte Traum" follows in a similar style, the piano starts off neigh intelligible and gains power as layers of soft synth, percussion, and bass are laid on it's constant key strokes.
While the entire album is littered with tiny moments of beauty gracefully interweaves with it's barren concept the standout moment comes when the listener reaches the paradoxically named "Closer Apart." Opening with a sequenced, slightly modulated syth line accompanied by a choir like sample that ebbs and flows from high to low the beginning of the track is superbly layered. Hansson's vocals once again steal the listener, taking them on a more personal journey if the line "Like a second skin, sheltered from emotion, a servant of the void. Like a child within, tremble at your presence, and brainwash out the joy" is any indicator. The sequenced synths repeat throughout the song, emphasizing Hansson's lyrics. With almost a minimalistic tone "Closer Apart" drags the listener into the blizzard of Hansson's emotion, and as the track draws to a close the lines and his voice only gain power; "Longing to break away and find my own, a time when you and I divide. bearing to change my ways and stand alone, begone and I can came to life... salvation when my heart resigns." As the lyrics fade and the soft sound of desolation reaches the listeners ears it becomes quickly apparent that the 4:55 running time of "Closer Apart" is the defining moment of the album.
Safe From Harm is an album that will push many potential listeners away. It's use of rather depressing lyrics and barren soundscapes make this a release that not everyone will be able to listen to often, indeed many will pass Unitary as a whole completely by. Though the ending of the album brings the concept a slight sense of closure nothing is truly answered, if you can find beauty in the bleak cold genius of Johan Hansson you might be surprised at how often
Safe From Harm ends up being on your playlist; it's hard to escape the winter.
