"last picture" for example could be a creepy sinister 5+ minutes had SA expanded on their idea. there's obviously talent here as everything is arranged well and played precisely, and also a talent to keeping things so short and precise. it's hard to put this satisfactorily into any one genre - it's quite experimental, almost like its been written for a bunch of scenes in a fast running movie or play, and perhaps this is its true purpose; it seems like a score.
there are a lot of different instruments used here. SA have used their soundbanks well - piano and accordion strangely working well together and heavy sombre strings with a plinky harp, harsh harpsichord etc. this is, for the most part, an upbeat release because of the instrumentation used but it does have a sad edge too.
over all this feels incomplete or perhaps a show reel, a suggestion of what SA can do. it's good but the ideas aren't explored enough to my liking, and there are some good ideas here! somewhere around the middle the songs begin to merge together somewhat, so it kind of seems like one song beginning to evolve in random abstract ways. i just find it difficult to relax into the song if its going to end 30 seconds later especially with instrumental songs.
i do for the most part like this, i like the ideas and the talent but just as you get into the flow its gone...