Sour Blood sets his claim for album of the year with breath-taking debut, Suas.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Enda Rowan
Sour Blood is a project led by experimental Tipperary-born, Irish artist Kevin Gleeson. We’ve featured him twice before through singles Suas and The Devil. Both are included on his self-released debut album, Saus. Written and recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden and Dublin, Ireland from 2022 and 2023 in collaboration with Brendan Jenkinson, its creation process flows right through its music.
The album opens with a ghostly and minimal Landfill. A barely there instrumental introduces things while whispered vocals add some emotional textures. As the track progresses it explodes into life with some severe electronic textures and we get an early indication of just how unexpected Suas will be.
Bruise is a soulful and melancholic moment. Mysterious Creatures plods along with an almost industrial undertone. Kevin’s vocals become particularly soulful during its quiet interludes. Title track Suas provides an early highlight thanks to its moody and boundary-pushing style. Textures come and go in a composition that always keeps you guessing.
The Devil opens the album’s second half in a soft and delicate way before Neon Sign gives us a simmering and atmospheric number that paints a vivid picture with its lyrics. Clot is a pulsating odyssey that unfolds over six, slow-burning minutes. Overgrowing closes the album in a gentle and acoustic way, providing a final twist in the sonic tale.
With his new album, Sour Blood takes the baton from experimental indie pioneers like Radiohead and Animal Collective and runs with it. Suas is a simply breath-taking album, with a surprise around every one of its sonic corners. It takes the listener on a trip, one that they’re going to wish would never end. It is, without a doubt, a contender for album of the year for me.
Suas is out now, available to buy as a digital album or on vinyl via Bandcamp. You can check it out below.