The Vernon Spring - Under a Familiar Sun (2025) (Hi-Res)
FLAC (tracks) 24bit-44.1kHz - 369 MB
37:50 | Electronic, Ambient | Label: OPIA Community
Musician, composer and producer Sam Beste, aka The Vernon Spring, muddles cinematic spoken word segments with cosmic piano flourishes and jazzy, dusty rhythms on 'Under a Familiar Sun'. Beste has played piano on an impressive number of records, from Leon Vynehall's 'Nothing Is Still' to Kano's 'Hoodies All Summer'. As a solo artist, he prefers to work as The Vernon Spring, accenting his limber piano performance with kaleidoscopic electronic processes and collaborations. Acclaimed English writer Max Porter reads over Beste's muted Duval Timothy-style tones on 'The Breadline', and Hamburg's Iko Niche is barely audible on 'Mustafa', her digitally-altered voice woven into Beste's patchwork of electric piano vamps and field recordings. 'Under a Familiar Sun' is engagingly sincere, and Beste's a talented producer - the tracks featuring New York-based polymath aden on vocals, 'Esrever Ni Rehtaf' and 'Counted Strings' stand out particularly. Her soaring, breathy vocals are the perfect foil for Beste's cosmic tones.