Blake Farfan—node(point)pattern

Blake is one of those artists I've been watching for a while now. His music is sonically extraordinary, often performing a cappella, with layer upon layer of vocal textures, usually resulting in something quite incredible.

This five-track EP opens with "Node" and I have to admit, my initial impression was one of disappointment, as it sounded like a more conventional track. I'd say the final quarter is where it really comes into its own, as those layered textures and incredible sounds are finally let loose.

The next track, "Surface", was recently featured on the Indie Launchpad singles podcast and within seconds, it's no surprise as to why. The layers are built up bit by bit and, sonically, it's an absolute treat for the ears, which I don't think you'll fully appreciate unless you're listening on headphones. It's a fairly slow-paced track, but one which I think serves as a wonderful showcase for Blake's work. There's something almost hypnotic about the way each element is introduced, building into something that feels considerably larger than where it began.

At only fifty five seconds, "(node)" is indeed brief, but it's still able to deliver an amazing sonic punch. The underlying motif for the majority of the track is able to twang my repetitious craving, but admittedly, just as I'm falling under its spell, the track is over. It's almost frustrating, although perhaps that's part of the point.

Fortunately, "Contours" also plays directly into my craving and within seconds I'm hooked, a subservient addict, happy while my sonic fix is stimulating my brain. It's an incredible soundscape, which unfortunately I think some people just won't get, either through unwillingness or perhaps simply sonic fatigue. For me, and I'm sure many other fans of this kind of music, it's oxygen to the fire that burns within our minds. There's something wonderfully immersive about repetition when it's done well, and Blake seems to understand exactly how much is needed to keep me completely engaged.

The EP closes with "pattern", another short, thirty four second segment, which serves as an interesting and, I think, very fitting way to bring the listener back to earth, with a gentle thud. After the immersive experience of "Contours", its brevity almost feels like a reset button, leaving you suddenly back in the real world.

For me, this is a very interesting and rewarding EP. For some, it may feel like a missed opportunity. I admit, I was a little disappointed when the opening track started, but it soon got into the swing of things and delivered exactly what I was hoping for, albeit sometimes just not enough. Perhaps that's actually my biggest criticism of the EP. Just when I'm completely disappearing into the sound, it's over.

I'm truly excited to see what the future holds for Blake, and hopefully it won't be too long before we have a full album release to disappear into.