New album from Sophrosyne

Artist Jason Van Pelt creates music inspired by 90s and 2000s electronica and instrumental hip hop under the Sophrosyne alias. With this project, which he’s been recording as since 1996, he strives to convey a sense of balance and introspection, drawing on nostalgia to instil a sense of story telling through his music.

The New Orleans artist has a career that spans two and a half decades of releasing music, along the way he’s built up a worthy catalogue of work unchained by commercial pursuit, offering strictly his own authentic creative vision.

Now he brings us his latest release with his fourth album, titled Reference Material. With his new album he delivers a spacey Warp Records style exploration of electronic music. Shuffling and complex beats provide the bedrock of the sound with a masterclass of synthesis and sound design providing a constantly evolving dynamic journey.

Intelligently crafted melodic work provides an unpredictable and surprising trip across the whole record which at times charms and at others sheds contrast and dissonance. A minimalist theme lays down a common thread while rich sonic textures and nods to underlying post-punk influence from his native city provide colour.

With his latest full-length release, Sophrosyne shows he’s an artist like no other with an album of staggering originality.

Listen to Reference Material below

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