Four Acoustic Solids: A Glitchy Little Gem from 2004
Alright, so let’s talk about Four Acoustic Solids, this kinda under-the-radar electronic album by SiCOMM & Various. Released back in 2004 on PulseData (a UK label), it's one of those albums that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. The genre? Electronic—but not your run-of-the-mill beats-and-bass stuff. Nope. This is experimental glitch territory, where things get weird, fragmented, and oddly satisfying.
First off, kudos to Si_COMM for basically doing everything—design, layout, graphics, concept—you name it, they did it. And mastering? That was handled by Andrew Lagowski, who clearly knew how to polish these jagged edges into something listenable but still raw enough to feel alive. It’s like he took all the broken pieces and glued them together in a way that makes sense if you squint hard enough.
Now, onto the tracks. I’m not gonna lie, there’s no tracklist info here besides “Untitled,” which feels kinda fitting given the vibe of the whole thing. But honestly? That’s part of its charm. You don’t need flashy names or overthought titles; what matters is how it hits you. So let me break down two moments that stuck with me.
The first track—or at least what I think is the opener—starts off with this stuttering beat that sounds like someone dropped their keyboard down a flight of stairs. But instead of being annoying, it’s hypnotic. Like, you find yourself leaning in, trying to figure out if it’s supposed to sound like that. Spoiler: it totally is. There are these little melodic blips buried underneath the chaos, almost like Easter eggs for your ears. Every time you think it’s gonna fall apart completely, it pulls itself back together just in time. It’s messy, sure, but in the best possible way.
Then there’s another moment—I can’t tell if it’s midway through or near the end because, again, no tracklist—but suddenly everything goes quiet. Just silence. For a second, you’re like, “Wait, did my headphones die?” But then BAM! This wall of distorted noise crashes in, layered with these haunting echoes that sound like ghosts having an argument. It’s unsettling, yeah, but also kinda beautiful. Feels like walking through an abandoned building late at night, hearing creaks and whispers you can’t quite explain.
What I love most about Four Acoustic Solids is how unapologetically itself it is. It doesn’t try to be catchy or accessible—it just exists, daring you to keep listening. And honestly? That takes guts. Most albums nowadays feel like they’re chasing streams or TikTok virality, but this? Nah. This is art for art’s sake, straight from the mind of someone who clearly had too many ideas and decided to throw ‘em all at the wall to see what sticks.
Here’s the kicker though: after listening to it, I couldn’t help but wonder if Si_COMM ever got tired of doing literally EVERYTHING themselves. Design, layout, graphics, concept… dude, hire a team next time, will ya? Or maybe don’t, because honestly, it works. Maybe that’s why it feels so cohesive—even if it’s chaotic as hell.
So yeah, give Four Acoustic Solids a spin if you’re into music that challenges you more than it comforts you. Just don’t blame me if you start hearing glitches in your sleep afterward.
