Stephen Steinbrink - Disappearing Coin Review
Exploring shifting rhythms, sharp synchronisation and dreamy songwriting; Steinbrink has crafted a summery album of melancholy and nostalgia.
Stephen Steinbrink’s sixth album ‘Disappearing Coin’ appears after a five year break from his previous album ‘Utopia Teased’. During this hiatus, Seinbrink committed to Buddhist study; beginning monastic training before the pandemic and engineering two albums by Boy Scouts. ‘Disappearing Coin’ also follows Steinbrink's completion of an apprenticeship in stained glass glazing which soon followed with work restoring the windows in San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral. This time away from touring and recording granted a fresh approach to Steinbrink’s krautrock inspired, indie pop songwriting.
Beginning with motoric drums and tightly performed bass, the first track 'Opalescent Ribbon' weaves around droning synth as Steinbrink's eerie harmonising vocals move above the sharp lock groove. All elements work together in rhythmic harmony, creating slowly moving motifs that bend and snap back into place.
Steinbrink playfully explores an intersection of minimalism and repetition throughout the album. 'Step's Disappearing Coin' implements sharp piano accompanied by arpeggiated xylophone-like tones reminiscent of the work of Steve Reich. Soon the track splits into 'Cruiser (reprise)' a reinterpretation of the third track in the album; swapping finger picked acoustic guitar for piano and palm muted bass. Shimmering chorus laden guitar slides into the break, injecting sunlight into the summery track.
Later in the tracklist, fourth track 'Nowhere Real' also receives the reprise treatment; converting the soft acoustic ballad into an uptempo indie pop tune. Complete with phased guitars, warm keys and flowing distortion.
Steinbrink’s teenage insecurity occupies much of the emotive material in the album. The title, 'Disappearing Coin' comes after Steinbrink was drawn to a video of a magician performing for a teenager in a desolate desert town; after relating heavily to the characters present in the recording, Steinbrink mined his own experience as an uncertain adolescent to craft an open and cathartic release of catchy songwriting.
"Strapped down in the car seat of my conscience, I feel so fucking guilty I could cry" - Pony
Stephen Steinbrink’s latest solo album ‘Disappearing Coin’ builds on the work of his previous releases. Exploring shifting rhythms, sharp synchronisation and dreamy songwriting; Steinbrink has crafted a summery album of melancholy and nostalgia.