After enticing us with a few irresistible tracks on their Soundcloud in the last couple of months, Portland duo Randa Leigh and Brian Vincent — AKA SOS — are set to release their self-titled album on September 16th. I suppose ‘experimental R&B’ is what one should use to appropriately describe their sound, but be sure to keep the emphasis on the experimental part. The complex layering of Vincent’s dark and sultry beats, Leigh’s beautiful vocals, and the ultimately seamless progression of each song makes for a sound that is somewhat quiet, a la Purity Ring or James Blake, but it remains within the soulful territory of R&B. You can also identify hints of industrial and deep house in the electronic beats.
A lucky crowd got to experience a live performance of SOS’s new album — along with an unexpected, yet unsurprisingly awesome cover of Aalyiah’s ‘Are You That Somebody’ — at Glasslands this past Monday night, and I think it’s safe to say that no fan went home unimpressed. The duo brought in a live band that gave an extra push to the already-well-crafted tracks, and in a live setting, Leigh’s vocal ability truly stood out. I mean, her voice sounds fantastic on the album, but sometimes a live performance with less-distorted vocals is necessary to showcase true talent.
Their energy is magnetic and although the Glasslands show was rather intimate, I imagine they’d fill a larger and more crowded space with the same enthusiasm and beautiful music.