A fantastic debut EP from Shluffy, Sol Searching presents a delectably soulful sound with a dreamy, psychedelic charm. Songwriter and producer Ariel Pacanowski describes the project as “an inward reflection marking a pivotal transition in my life” — playing as an immersive audible search for artistic and personal identity. Pop, soul, psychedelia, funk, and jazz intertwine with seamless cohesion throughout the dazzling production, recorded in the Byron Bay Hinterland (Australia), in a small shed dubbed “The Hobbit Hole.”
Opening the EP, “Where You Going?” casts a hazy initial intrigue — before a title-touting questioning is bolstered by a funky rhythmic bounce. “Old patterns are bound to repeat,” the vocals exude with heady introspection, fusing the approachable funk-pop arsenal with ruminations on life’s journey. Shades of Toro y Moi show enjoyably in the confident vocal drive and funky electronic swagger. The ensuing “Higher Sound” struts a psych-ready display in its lush synth pads, galloping bass line, and “searching for a higher sound” lyrical sentiments — conveying a lofty sense of searching for identity, here within a moodily immersive pop display.
Another standout track, “The Living Stream” fuses funky guitar elements and ghostly synth effects alongside “time is frozen” lyrical sentiments — tracing feelings of complacency within a memorably haunting sound. The wordless vocal harmonizing dazzles, as does the final minute in general, with its mixture of smooth crooning, funky bass warbles, and synth sophistication. EP finale “She Gets Me” also enthralls, building with artful momentum as the title-based refrain moves with hypnotic serenity as glimmering keys, synth-y mystique, and steady percussion assemble for a thoroughly inviting sound. Sol Searching is a wonderfully immersive success of an EP from Shluffy.
