SIMON COLLINS
“BECOMING HUMAN”
Album Review by Syl Pdll

9/10

Simon Collins returns to the music scene with his fourth solo album, Becoming Human, which combines progressive rock with electronic elements with a strong influence from his previous band Sound of Contact. According to the singer, this album is a reflection on transcendental themes of the human being, such as surrender, renewal, elevation and mortality. On the content of Becoming Human he mentions: “It reflects a deep and wild existential journey and a sonic evolution. The soundscape explores a progressive fusion of electronic and rock influences, a cross-pollination of genres that fuse spatial atmospheres and environmental moods with craftsmanship progressive pop songs, creating a futuristic progressive-sounding album”.

For this work, Simon Collins provided vocals, drums and keyboards and had the support of Sound Of Contact guitarist Kelly Avril Nordstrom, bassist Gaz Williams, guitarist Robin Boult and Robbie Bronnimann in programming and sound design.

“Into The Fray” is the introduction to this album that begins with a series of ascending electronic sounds that at its highest point presents us with the first musical notes of “Becoming Human”, the homonymous song of this album and the first advance prior to the release of this album, is a song that tells us about spirituality and self-love to understand our existence, musically, it presents that combination between electronic sounds and progressive rock through the chords of the guitar and the beat of the drums.

“The Universe Inside Of Me” is one of the songs that I have enjoyed the most on this album and in which there is a greater predominance of electronic and pop elements without neglecting those passages of progressive rock. A song perhaps complex due to the presence of different musical styles but which are interconnected, which seek to portray that set of sensations and feelings that the singer himself has experienced in recent years.

“Man Made Man” introduces us to darker musical fields in which we could say that there is a slight approach to industrial metal due to the way in which electronic sounds are presented and combined with the strumming of the guitar and the strength of the guitar. Contrary to “This Is The Time” in which you experiment with symphonic sounds and give that feeling of finding the light at the end of the tunnel, it is a song that shows a more melodic side of Simon Collins and that sometimes has that influence musical of his famous father, but which has also allowed him to create his own style.

“Thoughts Become Matter” begins with the fusion of the keyboard notes and some electronic elements that increase as the song progresses, where the vocal interpretation in each of the verses plays a little with technology to show a facet up to certain futuristic point. The chorus is an explosion of emotions and shows Collins’ vocal abilities.

The notes of the piano and the violin introduce us to “I Will Be Waiting” and that awakens a feeling of nostalgia that surrounds you throughout the song. The presence of progressive rock and electronic fusion that has distinguished this album are present in the middle part at the end of the song. The chorus is short, but it fulfils its goal of hooking itself on the listener’s head.

“No Love” is perhaps the most rhythmic song featured on this album, showing an interesting fusion between rock and pop with some electronic elements that will undoubtedly attract the attention of the younger generation. “Living In Silence” continues this modern and futuristic atmosphere, the presentation of the electronic sounds in the chorus in combination with Collins’ voice creates a powerful and emotional chorus.

“40 years” is another of the songs that appeals to the feeling for the melodic passages created from the combination of acoustic and electric guitars. The chorus shows a more alternative sound that is characterized by the presence of electronic elements. The execution of the percussions by Collins himself stands out, an instrument that he learned to play from his childhood under the influence of his father.

“So Real” is another of my favourite Becoming Human songs, where Simon Collins’ vocal performance will catch you from the first seconds. The sound of this song will take us back to the initial part of this album where the presence of progressive rock fused with electronic elements are the main ingredients.

“Dead Ends” is the masterpiece of this album being the song with the longest duration, and it plays with all the elements that have been appreciated in previous songs such as the presence of electronic elements, the basis of progressive rock, as well as the part melodic through its symphonic arrangements and piano notes. A great closing for Becoming Human that allows you to appreciate Collins’ musical abilities.

It’s been a little over a decade to hear new material from Simon Collins on his solo project again and I think it was worth the wait. Becoming Human is an album perhaps somewhat ambitious, but it has been Collins’s most personal album where he gives an account of his own experiences and the process of reconfiguration on a more spiritual plane. For those who have listened to the only Sound of Contact album there will be a point of comparison to identify if this album constitutes a kind of continuation, but the essence is present in most of the songs. If progressive metal with a futuristic vibe is to your liking, this album will be for you.

TRACKLIST

Into The Fray
Becoming Human
The Universe Inside Of Me
Man Made Man
This Is The Time
Thoughts Become Matter
I Will Be Waiting
No Love
Living In Silence
40 Years
So Real
Dead Ends

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