3 out of 5

Label: SFI

Produced by: Justin Sweatt

Calming and carefully layered, Justin Sweatt’s third release under his own name really pushes on a singular atmosphere, as captured in its art and title: the quiet as the sun sets. That could be ominous, but I don’t think that’s the intention here – the sky is clear; the land glows with warm comfort. At worst, this collection of gentle electronic and guitar sweeps is tepid; at best, it’s entrancing. For me, it’s somewhere between those ends, but the control Sweatt displays – a willingness to add a gentle beat, to allow the analog and digital elements to both shine through – bestows a quiet confidence on the listener, that the lazy pace and tone are exactly as intended.

The editing and mastering (all by Justin, alongside the music) are also keys to that presentation. Tracks are separate, and do have relative peaks and valleys; I have trouble identifying one moment from the next – like I know a beat comes in here, or the guitars become more pronounced soon – but the experience provides breaths; pauses where you resettle in your sittin’ chair and recontemplate the day’s issues anew. Do you come up with any new conclusions? Hm. Hm. Let’s sit and think about that some more. Give me an hour.

The digital / bandcamp exclusive tracks interestingly feel ever slightly more urgent; they do come across as “extras” for that reason, and speak further to the precision of the set. I am curious to get my hands on the physical edition, which has its own exclusives, and compare the experience. Y’know, really sit there and think about it, and maybe not have any concrete thoughts per se, but, y’know, hm… give me another hour here…