OPHÅNIM is an electronic music duo currently based in Texas comprised of Elyza Hyde and NËXP. They mention “We are heavily influenced by both the modern electronic and dance scene, as well as the music we grew up listening to and playing early on in our careers, citing The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Madonna as influences early on. OPHÅNIM at its heart, is an epic space opera. The music, videos and characters we embody tell a story on a celestial scale, while exploring themes of existence, dark and light, and mental health.”
That was definitely the feeling I was getting while listening to the music. It sounded cinematic and like music I could imagine being used in sci-fi movies. In fact there are a number of moments in the album that make it feel more like a narrative.
The album gets going with “Prime Star-Creator” and right off the bat you feel like you’re in deep space. It’s a bit ominous sounding and I had a feeling I was hanging with the dark side. The music is atmospheric and just cinematic in a very Hans Zimmer type of way. It’s indicative of what else you can expect from the album.
“Diosa Fortuna” is next and the song brings up the intensity. The synth bass and percussion sounded great. It’s well mixed and it has a kinetic feeling to it. I could imagine this song being played at a rave if that’s what the kids are calling it these days. “Transmission (Intérludió)” continues seamlessly into the more beat heavy “Transmission.” You’re transported to a far and distant land with this and having just watched the new Avatar movie this sounded like it could have been in that movie. There’s some parts in the song where it sounds like a commander having to relay a transmission.
“Eqûivocadö” starts with moody pads and spoken words. It tries to feel very serious but is on the line of taking itself too seriously. It’s a very sparse piece with little movement. I was happy to hear some guitar on the next song “The Moon.”There are vocals that come into the song and I was completely blind-sided. It sounds like a country song and I had to check I was still listening to the same artist as it was a radical departure from their previous songs.
They get back into their more signature sound with “Fight The Nothing (Reloaded)” although there are vocals here as well. It’s a slow burn of a song. As the album progresses there as a mix of songs. “Star-Date” is a clear highlight with some of the more notable grooves. “Šhāktī” and “Rīnkü” were some of their best moments.
The band’s strength is when they stick to bigger cinematic songs with some experimentation. There are some twists and turns which took me out of that headspace. Overall, I found this enjoyable and think with their next effort they can hone on their signature sounds even a little more. I think fans of epic movie soundtracks will appreciate this the most. Take a listen.
Heather Savage
