Exactly two years after the release of ΠΟΛΙΣ, Subheim returns with RAEON; a collection of eight new tracks for lonely evenings and long night drives. With RAEON, Subheim continues to expand into the sonic area he has steadily been exploring since 2015’s Foray, the album that marked a conscious shift towards moodier, lo-fi territory. While this new release feels like a natural continuation of the producer’s most recent work, it is also entirely stripped of any percussive elements with the focus being placed on space, ambience and melody. Each composition feels like a distant, fading memory that unfolds faster than you'd expect it to and dissolves into an echoing nothingness before you’re able to hold on to it for more than a few seconds. Much like a long-distance train passing by, the momentary flickering of city lights at night or a song you might hear in your sleep. Every piece functions as a different chapter of the same open-ended narrative; one where stillness, movement, darkness and light simultaneously coexist in harmony. Intentionally imperfect, naturally gritty, spacious as ever, the record balances between fragility and conviction, and once more reveals the deeply human side of its creator. In contrast to some of Subheim's darker material, RAEON is filled with an undertone of bittersweet hopefulness and a strong desire for new life. With the juxtaposition of nostalgic, synthesized, analog sounds and neoclassical elements, this mini-album strikes a near perfect balance between past and future, melancholy and anticipation. And while the closing track is almost ironically called “Forget”, its ending will surely leave you longing for more.
