The legends of old return! Loop were one of the visionaries acts of the late ‘80s, alongside other paragons like My Bloody Valentine and Spacemen 3. Despite their short-lived existence, Loop managed to shake the post-punk and indie rock scenes. Taking on many elements from the new wave lineage, Loop were not content with confinements. Their tools in escaping these boundaries were noise rock and no wave, psychedelia and drone mechanics. And despite their small discography, works like Heaven’s End and Fade Out stood the test of time, influencing a number of contemporary artists. Still, Loop returned to the scene in 2013, releasing their Array 1 EP. And even though 25 years passed by, and Array 1 did feel like a nostalgic release, there was no obvious rust over Loop’s vision. It appears still relevant today, which makes the prospect of a new Loop album, after 32 years, that much more exciting.
There are many elements of Sonancy that scream with the ‘80s ethos. The post-punk kick off with “Interference” reveals Loop’s pedigree. The dark attitude rises, the emphatic bass lines of “Fermion” and the trademark progression of “Axion” speak to the glory of that scene. But, Loop were never just of that scene. Their adventurous outlook persists to this day, as they inject a psychedelic bullet to the new wave soul. “Eolian” sees this quality come together. The desertous landscape filled with otherworldly colors, as sound effects, phased out vocals and heavy distortion merge for this singular narrative. It is an element derived from a deep understanding and love for sound design. And it really shines in the likes of “Penumbra I,” but even more so in “Isochrone.” From subtle beginnings, the constant rhythmic hook builds up to become the backbone of this opus.
The dedication to the tempo does not stop there. It moves onwards from the psychedelic domain and into the spiritual. “Penumbra II” reveals this inclination, once more the scenery beautifully lit through the psych rock tinges and the sound design applications. And yet, there is another face to this adoration of pacing. A pseudo-industrial component rises through the noise rock methodologies. It is never a full blown display of electronica of course, but it rather draws upon the mechanical precision of the genre. “Supra” is an excellent meeting of these two different modes, the imperfect saturation combining with the relentless and methodical progression. It is a similar application with “Halo,” the pulsing noise acting as the heartbeat of the track. And when more push and pull is required, that is when the noise rock self completely takes over, shredding the soundscapes with glorious sonic razors.
So Sonancy does not diverge from what Loop have been known to do. Their identity is unaltered. But similar as to their return in 2015, they are still able to capture the magic of the past. Their post-punk foundation, noise rock and psychedelic notions combining and just an abundance of creativity when it comes to sound crafting. It is all these elements that make Sonancy a spectacular trip, no matter if you have been on that ride before.
