Released 10 years ago
Hold/Still
Suuns · 2016
46 min · 11 tracks · indie rock
A hypnotic blend of pulsing rhythms and ethereal vocals that traverse the boundaries of indie rock and experimental soundscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
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Resistance — This track stands out with its driving bassline and layered textures, embodying the album's themes of tension and perseverance through rhythmic complexity.
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Brainwash — The song's unsettling atmosphere is amplified by its repetitive structure, creating a sense of disorientation that reflects the lyrical content about manipulation and control.
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Careful — With its extended duration, this track allows for an immersive experience, showcasing the band's ability to build tension slowly while maintaining a haunting melodic presence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends rhythmic intensity with atmospheric soundscapes, maintaining a cohesive flow throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a driving bass line that persists through the first half, creating a hypnotic effect.
- Vocals are layered and often treated with effects, blending into the instrumentation rather than standing out as traditional lead lines.
- Several tracks feature abrupt transitions, such as 'Instrument' leading directly into 'Un-No', which maintains the album's momentum.
- The final track, 'Infinity', gradually fades out over several minutes, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved tension.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- hypnotic rhythms for focused listening
- immersive soundscapes for introspection
- steady build of tension and
- ethereal vocals for emotional depth
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat, fast-paced tracks
- want straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2016, Hold/Still is Suuns' third studio album, following their critically acclaimed 2013 release Images Du Futur. By this point, the band had solidified their unique sound, characterized by atmospheric instrumentation and a penchant for blending genres, which positioned them as innovators in the indie rock scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Preoccupations· Battles· The Black Angels
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Brainwash
A shift occurs in the chorus where the narrative voice becomes increasingly accusatory, directly addressing external forces at play.
This change in address amplifies the urgency of the message, contrasting with verses that remain more observational and detached.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Fall 3:06
- 2 Instrument 3:20
- 3 Un-No 3:43
- 4 Resistance 5:11
- 5 Mortise and Tenon 3:33
- 6 Translate 4:57
- 7 Brainwash 5:02
- 8 Careful 7:03
- 9 Paralyzer 4:24
- 10 Nobody Can Save Me Now 4:10
- 11 Infinity 2:12
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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