Resonance Association, The: Choose Euphoria

Choose Euphoria is the eighth album from London based duo The Resonance Association, an outfit made up of just two gentlemen, Daniel Vincent (lead guitars, keyboards, sequencing) and Dominic Hemy (guitar, theremin, electronics). As you’ll understand from the line-up, this is instrumental fare with a lot of electronic elements steering the ship. The band’s previous seven albums have seen the twosome take on a variety of musical guises I believe, but here on Choose Euphoria a quite singular approach has been sought out. Yes, this is progressive rock, but in reality, the intentional repetitiveness of the beats, the melodies and the overall musical tone push things strongly into the world of psych and into the verges of drone and, if it’s a thing, maybe electro-stoner.

Now, I feel the need to clarify that last suggestion, because one quick glance at this album will confirm that it is in no way stoner - there’s nary a riff in sight - but it’s the relentless repetition of the central musical themes and the consistency with which they are delivered that turns me to that notion. I think also that the album title and cover art suggest a certain ‘frame of mind’ that might just push these at times spacey themes into ‘other realms’ and I can imagine that in such a circumstance, the effect would be magnified countless times over. As it is, the opening trio of “Force Majeure�, “Invocation� and “The State Of Things� make for a heady journey and one with little in the way of compromise. Personally, while all aspects are keenly crafted throughout, there’s only so much of this ‘more of the same’ ethos that I can take before I need something else to move things along and my main issue here is that it’s not an outlook that’s on the agenda. For those more ensconced in this particular style, that may actually be a plus.

Choose Euphoria is music to lose yourself in, music to become a part of and maybe even music that alters your state of mind. As a casual listen it wafts into the background just a little too easily for my taste, but tuned in, through headphones, it’s difficult to ignore.

Track Listing
1. Force Majeure
2. Invocation
3. The State Of Things
4. No Fear Of Falling
5. Some Kind
6. Trip Hazard
7. Elsewhere
8. Space Time Politics

Added: April 5th 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Choose Euphoria @ bandcamp
Hits: 259
Language: english

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