Establishing the mood with a cinematic, melodic bass synth and soft 808s like a heartbeat, Arthur Roman opens nighthawk with dimensionality, expanding into a high emotional quotient with a textured topper and percussion elements.
The track embodies a trip-hop aesthetic, reminiscent of early Portishead, especially with the subversive, almost vintage notions. We appreciate the intricacy, psychoacoustic distortion, and the cohesive ebbs and flows of the track. There is no doubt that the composition would be a perfect fit for the score of a Sofia Coppola or Gus Van Sant film, and that fans of Air and Massive Attack would also be able to vibe with what Arthur Roman is creating.
As much as the composition taps into 90s nostalgia, there is a fresh and contemporary, almost futuristic essence that transmutes. The reverberating bell tones mid-way through truly tap into our heart centre, rebuilding with a crescendo into the main body of the composition. Another meditative respite teases us before the finale of the song which also features a rising astral synth based on the original melody that we experience before a sublime piano outro.
Speaking on the release, Arthur Roman confesses, “I want to offer something enjoyable, a bit of background music with an edge of indie inspiration. I like to keep it simple. Music has been a part of my life since I was 12, playing little melodies on keyboards with their programmed beats. I haven’t lost my love for that specific electronic sound. Grew up listening to nearly all music styles, but indie and electronic have had the deepest impact on me. Everything I create today is a remnant of my childhood.”
He adds, “This song, nighthawk, is a minimalist, quiet electronic track with a clean synth arp and subtle distortion textures. Featuring dry production and a simple, rhythmic indietronica progression, it functions beautifully as a high-end, deep-focus background utility track.”
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added nighthawk to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Arthur Roman, including stylus, and earthrise.