Herman Martinez’s latest album UltraTerrestrial blends multiple genres to bring to life a musical imagination that is far from the norm. This is an album that deserves to be listened to in one sitting.
Uncanny Valley
Starting off with a mixture of muffled, unintelligible voices, the intro track to the album, ‘Uncanny Valley’ descends into a solid rock riff. The song shifts through genres in and of itself, keeping you on an edge as to what to expect.
Changeling
The second track on the album, ‘Changeling’ starts off softly, warmly, reminding you of walking through a city. Don’t be fooled by its initial sound because the track soon descends into themes of masks and identity and an introspective soundscape.
Thagomizer
The moment the song starts, ‘Thagomizer’ feels like an intro to a dystopian world, but then it soon sheds that skin and takes on the sound of a reflective rock track. The guitar riffs and solo sections in the song are to look out for.
Smudge
‘Smudge’ starts out with gentle acoustic guitar and gentler piano notes, and this is complemented by equally gentle vocals that hold immense depth of feeling. The song acts as a palate cleanser in a way within the album with regards to its sound.
Cauda Pavona
Starting off softly like the previous track, ‘Cauda Pavona’ soon starts building in its intensity. The piano in the song brings about shifts in the mood of the song, and is a constant presence within the song.
Unreliable Narrator
With muffled drums introducing the track, ‘Unreliable Narrator’ in line with its title will pull you into its haunting, atmospheric soundscape. The layered vocals in the song ground the broody nature of the song, and the way the song builds itself and the way it falls is just too beautiful.
UltraTerrestrial
Starting off with guitars that seem influenced by Spanish guitar playing, ‘UltraTerrestrial’ has an opera-like feel to it in the way that it moves. The title track, in keeping with its role, blends genres to create an interesting listening experience.
Sol
Compared to the previous tracks in the album, ‘Sol’ feels like a shift from the overall sound of the album. The track embodies a more calmer, peaceful, reflective sound that will make you want to just play the song while looking at the stars.
I Hope Something Good Happens to you Today
Starting off with a sound that might feel like a symbol for a cacophony, ‘I Hope Something Good Happens to you Today’ works in many different, interesting layers. The song feels deeply intimate, haunting, and somehow feels like a sort of warning.
Photographic Reflexes
A dream-like instrumentation beginning the track, ‘Photographic Reflexes’ makes use of music that feels nostalgic. The echoes, the muffled guitars, the piano notes feel like a journey to the land of memories, to the land of days that once were.
Origins
The final track on the album, ‘Origins’ is a very instrumental piece, and the choice to make it so is truly commendable. The album being so musically heavy, this track becomes one where the music is all there is and one where the audience is brought to its origins.
Bringing in themes of uncertainty, identity and music that uniquely captures those themes, UltraTerrestrial is an album that will linger in your mind space.