Tristesse is a lovely mini-album by Portal, released in May 2001. Song titles such as "Soundwaves," "Breathe," and "Half-Light" describe the sound of the album, which is gentle and subtle. Synthesizers seem to be the heart of the album, as they often create the mood of a song. They can be a simple tone held throughout, like in "Tristesse," or they can be vibrant and dynamic, like in "Half-Light."
The synthesizers are the foundation of most songs, and these, along with the occasional bass line and beats, support more flighty sounds like delicate electric drums or lightly strummed guitar.
The bass and guitar are wonderful. In "Even the Sun," a pleasant bass line makes a solid background melody for the rest of the song, and in "Eclipse," the guitar plays a melody that echoes and hovers above the light synthesizer and fills up space with warm, inviting tones. "Tristesse" features a processed guitar that repeats a theme of a few slow notes, and which has an almost otherworldly sound.
There are vocals on some songs, which are usually pretty, but I tend to enjoy the instrumental songs more. "Soundwaves" is especially nice, with a prominent, repeating bass line. The beats are also upfront and sound like clapping and a high hat. The synthesizers seem to undulate and weave around the bass and drums. The music changes in intensity while keeping a steady rhythm. It's repetitive, as are many songs on this album, but in a pleasant way, with everything fading out at the end.
"Pulse" stands out a bit from the rest, with its layers of faster, tricky beats, a sustained distorted guitar chord, and a quick bass line. The synthesizers are full and seem to surround the rest of the instruments. There are quiet vocals, which I like very much, since they are mixed right in with the other elements of the music.
I found myself listening to Tristesse more than I thought I would. The way the elements of synthesizer, guitar, and beats work together is soothing and quite satisfying. With the sounds and songs of "Tristesse," Portal has created an atmosphere that, once you have entered, may be difficult to leave behind.
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