Following on from her début album release of Hero Brother, Sarah Neufeld offers up a new companion EP titled Black Ground, featuring a reworking of one of Hero Brother’s tracks, and two new compositions. The new EP continues in the same vein that began with that album, offering up cinematic orchestral tracks that are both striking yet beautiful. Black Ground is an enjoyable experience that is sure to be pleasing to those who were taken by Hero Brother’s wonderful array of cinematic orchestral music.
The EP features Sarah Neufeld doing what she clearly does best with effortless ease. The three tracks offer further insight into the world being conjured up by Neufeld’s imagination, offering a very exciting yet dark world of orchestral movements. The first track features a reworking of ‘Breathing Black Ground’, now featuring more movements and instrumentals to really bring new life to the track. However, it’s in the remaining two tracks though that we find the really appealing elements of the EP, especially in the closer which offers another haunting yet wonderfully beautiful cinematic track.
If any negatives are to be found on Black Ground, it is in how little newness the EP actually offers. With just three tracks, it would be much more preferable if the tracks themselves really offered something truly spectacular from Neufeld, or even hinted at something spectacular, making us want another future release. As enjoyable as Neufeld’s music is, it seems that Black Ground is only a release for the die-hard fans who want everything available by Neufeld.
Black Ground EP is in many ways an enjoyable EP experience, though it is a little flawed in some areas. In terms of the actual music itself, there is an enjoyable strain running through it, though as an EP experience, it seems to be missing some vital ingredients that make it a worthy standalone release.
For those who enjoy Neufelds highly creative and enjoyable music, they will find Black Ground to be an enjoyable release that serves as a nice after-thought to Hero Brother.
