Salem

Salem by MATT TARKA is an evocative and genre-fluid listening experience, capturing the ease of indie rock while exploring the psychedelic influences of artists like The Velvet Underground. Standing on the shoulders of musical giants, they still put their own spin on the tonal palette. The acoustic guitar feels like a guiding light, defining the sound while also introducing us to a rhythmic component. It lays the foundation for the track and allows the other melodic aspects to dance around its consistency.

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You can really feel the psychedelic tone set in with the introduction of the subtle trills and embellishments that ebb and flow. They have a lightness in their tone and a bright, shiny timbre which differentiates them from the other sonic aspects of the track. They feel like musical tracers or hallucinations, in line with Salem’s sonic identity while also enriching the overall tapestry with their presence. They are tools for immersion, the echoes pull you further and further into the world of the music. The vocals are another strong aspect. Their register is high and their delivery is emotionally resonant, conveying more than just the lyrics. Instead, the vocals dive deep into the tone behind every word. There is not a single syllable that feels out of place and that deep musical cohesion contributes further to this feeling of immersion I mentioned earlier. Everything in this track feels like it is pulling you into another world. The Velvet Underground’s reference feels especially potent later in the track where some of the high register embellishments remind me of the tonal additions in Sunday Morning, with these warm and fuzzy bells decorating the track. On top of the earthy strumming, the song also utilises an intense and energetic electric guitar which cuts through the other sonic elements, injecting the piece further with a charismatic sense of pep. Overall, the track delivers sonically, crafting a world all of its own that draws you in with every note.