Empty View by SOM.1

"Empty View" is the debut album from the French electronic duo SOM.1, who have previously had releases on the esteemed R&S Records and Laurent Garnier's Cod3 QR label. Crafted between their bases in Montpellier and London, the record blends a strong cinematic identity with core elements of drum and bass, IDM, trip-hop, and ambient music.

The ten tracks showcase a collision of tension, emotion, and groove, including the recent singles "Akua," "Overmoon," and "Fire in Hall." It is a cohesive and sensory journey that moves between shadow and light, promising an immersive listen for fans of genre-defying electronic soundscapes.

The tension SOM.1 describes is born from this bold fusion. The album's foundation appears built on the contrast between the fluid, melancholy rhythms of trip-hop and the sharp, kinetic energy of drum and bass. This blend is immediately apparent in the singles, with "Akua" delivering sharp, almost surgical breakbeats against a backdrop of sweeping, immersive ambient textures and early 1990s vibes.

Tracks like "Synk" and "Chemical Avenue" lean into the more technical, sound-design focused territory of IDM, while the "Intro" and "Outro" orchestrate a structured, narrative arc across the ten tracks. On the track "You Lie," the duo ventures into the wonderfully strange universe of Aphex Twin and does not lose the thin red thread that binds it all together.

The overarching "cinematic identity" is perhaps the most intriguing element, suggesting a complex sound staging with deep emotional resonance. From the urban desolation on "Chemical Avenue" to the isolated vastness of the track "Iceland" with its underlying yet taunting piano melody, or the pain and desperation shown on "Time".

"Empty View" aims to be more than just a collection of songs; it's an expansive soundtrack demanding focused attention. While the artists behind SOM.1 remain deliberately enigmatic, their debut firmly establishes them as a major act whose depth of production will reward critical listening.

SOM.1 - Empty View
Release Date December 2025
Label AWO Records

Tracklist
1. SOM.1 - Intro 
2. SOM.1 - Synk
3. SOM.1 - Overmoon
4. SOM.1 - Akua
5. SOM.1 - You Lie
6. SOM.1 - Fire In Hall
7. SOM.1 - Time
8. SOM.1 - Chemical Avenue
9. SOM.1 - Iceland
10. SOM.1 - Outro