Pablo Embon – Isaiah (Single Review)

Argentinian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Pablo Embon has recently released his new single, ‘Isaiah’. Available since October, Embon describes the track with intriguing tags like ‘Ethnic music’ and ‘Indian music’, signalling a cross-cultural soundscape for his latest instrumental release.

The track immediately establishes an Indian musical landscape with the characteristic plucked articulation of a string instrument (likely a zither or harp). Layered over this shimmering foundation, a wordless female vocalization emerges. The delivery is unhurried and tranquil, creating an atmosphere so serene it immediately suggests a perfect accompaniment for meditation or relaxation.

This serene soundscape is suddenly punctured by weighty, resonant percussion – a powerful rhythm that immediately brings to mind the deep texture of African drums. This marks a clear shift, moving the composition decisively out of the serene mood and into a realm of palpable tension. In other words, Pablo Embon masterfully controls the emotional journey, successfully shifting the listener’s mood between two distinct states.

A contrasting melodic layer is then introduced: piano-like keys and other string manipulation provide a metallic, piercing texture that cuts through the raw, wooden sound of the drums.

With subtle shifts in instrumentation and the addition of another vocal texture, the deceptive and change-oriented Pablo Embon surprises the listener once more, introducing a bluesy melodic instrument that sounds distinctly like a clean-toned blues guitar. The mood changes once more, settling back into a state of relaxation, yet it possesses a different kind of relaxation.

The drumming itself has evolved, now featuring a steely percussion that sits beneath the bluesy feel and contributes to an overall cinematic sound. However, the change-oriented Pablo Embon pivots once more, offering a burst of rapid, intricate instrumentation to propel the track forward.

The track ultimately resolves with the reintroduction of piano keys and vocalization, with the keys becoming increasingly delicate and softer as the music fades into a mood of final, gentle and fleeting relaxation.

SCORE/Outstanding: On ‘Isaiah’, Pablo Embon has created a truly intriguing piece of music. The single is essentially a tale of contrasting moods: relaxation and tension. As soon as the listener settles into one emotional state, the musician deftly pivots to the other. This constant uncertainty – where the presumed mood shifts again and again – leaves the listener feeling both soothed and unsettled.

Follow Pablo

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Website