There is a rare, delicate alchemy in music that chooses to paint with space rather than density. In the mini-EP Ara by S. Salter, the Anglo-Swiss duo comprising Samuel Ruddick and Jeremia Reichen invites us into an exquisite, atmospheric world where sound effects and real-world textures seamlessly blend, transforming abstract electronic impulses into living, breathing landscapes.
Three years have passed since the duo’s acclaimed 2023 debut album Juun, a record heavily rooted in the rustic, rolling topography of Samuel’s native South West England and enriched by Jeremia’s intricate sound design. In the interim, S. Salter have far from stagnated. Between captivating audiences across Europe with their sell-out audiovisual live show ‘A Walk With… S. Salter’ (including a landmark performance at Amsterdam’s Nxt Museum), contributing to Nils Frahm’s prestigious Piano Day compilation, and releasing poignant solo endeavors, they have quietly sharpened their collaborative vocabulary. They return now in full force, treating their listeners to a tightly constructed, eight-minute sonic arc that values emotional weight over long runtimes.
The Sonic Architecture of Ara by S. Salter
The album is less about narrating with melodies, and more about creating atmospheres, sound instants, and pictures made with sound. Throughout the EP, sound effects, classical musical instruments, and electronic synths walk hand in hand to help create a vision and a distinct visual world within each track. It is a striking exercise in cinematic audio impressionism.
The journey begins with “Parts of Town,” an opening movement that utilizes deeply effective instruments to construct an atmospheric world from the ground up. It starts with a minimalist, beautifully repetitive motif on the piano. Soon, strings, bass, drum, and synths are layered meticulously on top of each other, creating a dense yet spacious piece. As the arrangement builds, the strings sweep into the mix, pushing the evolving dynamics toward a restrained yet powerful climax. Just as a magnificent swell of brass lifts the track into its final movement, it slips away almost as quickly as it began, leaving behind a lingering sense of mystery.
Then comes “Ara,” a soft and deeply atmospheric piece that serves as the title track and the emotional bridge of the EP. Clocking in at just around one minute, this fragmented, drifting interlude is far more about pure atmosphere than melody. Here, the piano is treated with a heavy, enveloping reverb that creates an immediate feeling of vast, endless space. The accompanying synths wrap around the keys like a slow-moving fog, suspending time and hanging beautifully in the air to transition us away from the opener’s cinematic gravity.
The emotional arc resolves beautifully with “Sunday in Bloom,” the final and longest piece of the EP. The piano adopts a more classical sound here, driven forward by elegant, rolling chord progressions. Electronic synths deepen the effect of these piano chords, enriching the sonic space to make the piece feel profoundly emotional, soothing, and warm. Listening to it induces a striking, evocative sensation of hovering in the sky, peacefully and weightlessly looking down as the world stirs below.
The Lasting Impression
Ultimately, Ara by S. Salter stands as a brilliant testament to the duo’s evolving musical language. By integrating poised electronic production elements with deeply expressive piano arrangements, they have crafted a brief but unforgettable listen. It is detailed, emotive, and remarkably expansive in scope, proving that a masterfully designed soundscape can conjure entire worlds in just a matter of minutes.
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