Nala Sinephro – Space 1.8

Need an instant out-of-this-world astral projection assist? Nala Sinephro’s debut LP Space 1.8, a suite of cosmic synth-jazz-spiraling-celestial jams is here to help. The London-based Sinephro composed the pieces based around the concept of sound’s ability to move matter. In addition to composing the record and playing pedal harp and modular synth, the 220-year old also produced, performed, engineered, recorded, and mixed the album. London jazz-scene luminaries James Mollison, Shirley Tetteh, Nubya Garcia, Eddie Hick, Dwayne Kilvington, Jake Long, Lyle Barton, Rudi Creswick, Twm Dylan and Wayne Francis all contribute, both musically and spiritually—each track is a first take between the warm spaces of shared meals, conversations, and laughter between the musicians, although Sinephora went in afterwards to add layers of guitar and harp for additional texture and richness.

To the delight of this “wannabe synesthete,” Sinephro made each recording with planetary positions in mind (Venus in particular) and used color and other olfactory stimuli to match and shape each “space.” She is highly interested in the effect that various frequencies can have on the body and their influence on healing and transformation.

The record opens with heavenly harp plucking and gentle birdsong, Space 1 (associated with yellows and oranges, according to Nala) to me is highly associated with awakening and the sacredness of a morning ritual. Space 2 uses synth, piano, and soft brass to bring jazzy drone fountaining light soothing and smoothing. Space 3 is an eruption, digitalized notes spiraling into the stratosphere while Space 5 (pink and purple, rose scents) is an interplanetary stop at a planet aquatic, waves of oboe echoed by gentle percussion and lapping sounds.

Space 6 is the pinnacle of the album, becoming frenzied and elevated, a raucous yet melodious climax of horns and percussion before descending back into the collapsing and expanding rainbow of Space 7 (gold and pink). The final piece of the suite, Space 8 (yellow velvet and new dawns), is especially meditative and tranquil, a lengthy piece still buzzing with frenetic energy, like watching a planet rotate on its axis while you float from afar and look down in awe.

Space 1.8 is cohesive, worshipful, resplendent, lavish and joyful.

Get Space 1.8 on Bandcamp, out today on Warp Records.