Review Summary: Similes is another great achievement for Matthew Cooper, even if it isn't at the same level as Copia.
By combining otherworldly rhythms and symphonic elements, Matthew Cooper is able to ensnare every human ear with each orchestrated piece he forms. Known by his alias, Eluvium, Cooper returns with his latest release, Similes. This album is a departure from his previous album, the piano-fuelled Copia and focuses more on soft electronic reverberation. With each track slowly drifting into another, one is mesmerized easily by Cooper’s masterful composing but it is hard to place the ambient elements at the same level as Copia. Similes is different and will throw some fans off guard. But what remains is Cooper’s heartfelt imagination that again takes the human mind through a series of majestic compositions.
Commencing with “Leaves Eclipse the Light”, Cooper displays his wonderful use of cymbal percussion that melds beautifully with the synthesizer that begs to relax the listener. While this is all perfectly executed, the addition of vocals in this track seems unnecessary and distracting. The first two lines of lyrics “I’m losing your train of thought, watching my mind get caught” seems redundant to the listener in the sense that they don’t need a narrator to tell them they are becoming more and more entranced by a track. And unfortunately this puts a damper on the track as it takes away from the overall effect of the track.
“In Culmination” and “Nightmare 5” are both very stationary pieces as they tend to stick to one real melody as opposed to other tracks such as “The Motion Makes Me Last”. This track begins with an upbeat electronic beat that is accompanied by a piano part that sounds surprisingly pure and sincere. It then seems to lose touch once Cooper discontinues singing. Cooper could have probably put more effort into this piece as he seems to have given up on another verse of vocals that renders the track stale and lifeless. He needs to focus more on which tracks would benefit from vocals and which don’t as there is confusion amidst many of these tracks.
The highlight of the album, “Weird Creatures” shows off a heavenly synthesizer and soft yet effective percussions components. Present here is Cooper’s strongest vocals that truly aid the hopeful ballad and expose heavenly sounds to listeners. “Making Up Minds” is another percussion gem that will hopefully become a trademark of Eluvium albums. The piano accompaniment is also well executed and the sheer complexity of the track is also note-worthy. The overall ambient experience is quite relaxing and Similes seems to accomplish it so effortlessly.
Similes is another success for Cooper’s career. The addition of percussion and vocals has had a binding effect on these tracks and the level of grace and complexity only further show off the genius of Eluvium. And while it may not be as appealing and effective a record as Copia was, there is no denying the level of clarity and innovation that this album has presented. Matthew Cooper has reinforced his musical gift of composition with Similes and it is truly hard to ask for anything more.
