Half Life - Album Review

By Matt Jensen, Divide & Conquer, 2/2/21

Sweet Freeze aka Kate Sattler is an artist from Portland who recently released Half Life. Last year I reviewed Permission and there are similarities to that release. I felt she built on the foundation she formed on her last album.

The album revolves around light instrumentation and serene, tranquil type vocals. I have to admit I’m not sure how I missed the similarities to Juliana Barwick last time but that is definitely an artist who has a comparable sense of aesthetics.

The songs on this album felt similar to the last album in that there are ambient vignettes. Although I don’t think these songs are religious there is also this feeling that these are hymns.

The album begins with the haunting “Buoys.” I could barely make out vocals at all in this song which hides in the background of the mix. The bass drum is actually the most prominent elements as synth-like violin and vocals wrap around it. “Fracture” is a slow burn of melancholy and contemplative colors. This song in particular came very close in emotive energy that I usually hear in the band Grouper whom I deeply enjoy. “Safe Harbor” provides a little levity but more of a relaxing and calming energy.

“Sunspot” was a highlight in my opinion and arguably the high point of the album. The guitars patterns were meditative and hypnotic and the vocals in addition to having the angelic quality are quite catchy. “Burn Control” returns to some of the darker tones and textures while “The New Machine” felt more like an interlude to change direction slightly.

Sattler introduces some more prominent percussion instruments on “Atomize” and slowly builds with more elements which creates this kinetic flow of patterns. “Shorter Days” felt more like an intro and “Poison” is a flickering ambient piece that buzzes around your head that almost seems binaural. The last song is a remix of “Safe Harbor” [by ate21] which has more elements in the percussive area which I thought sounded great.

My main critique is the same one I had on my previous review. Sattler presents an idea and usually in most cases adds to it by using more elements. There aren’t significant changes that you might hear in contemporary classical pieces for example. For this reason this album feels thoroughly rooted in the ambient category. Sattler creates moods which sit for as long as the songs last. In fact she may want to consider making her songs into seamless loops where people can listen to a certain mood indefinitely.

If you liked her last release you will like this and if you haven’t heard her before this isn’t a bad place to start. Recommended.

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Iker Garmendia, musician (Sugaar Pan)

My introduction to this artist and a devoted fan since then. It's amazing how music so cold, minimalistic and barebones can deliver so much emotional intensity and delicate beauty. Sweet Freeze is a perfect naming choice that captures the mood of her music. An artist that achieves the same results of bands such as Low by different means.

limnetic villains, musician

Weird stuff. Kind of like if PJ Harvey’s White Chalk album was played to Stereolab through a wall and then they tried to cover it after taking a bunch of dissociatives. Levels are a bit up and down. I need time with this one, wishlisted. I like it. Nice oddity.

gtlokeb, musician (Hverheij)

Half Life breathes indie with quiet, acoustic sound. Vocal phrasing colors the music so well with a universal, humanistic heartbeat.