Saapato – On Fire Island Review

What does Saapato sound like?

Thoughtful soundscapes built upon vast and immersive landscapes.

The review of ‘On Fire Island’ by Saapato

Mixing together an ethereal and gentle ambience with an immersive field recording collection of Fire Island, Saapato’s album is uniquely panoramic. Following a residency with the National Park Service on the island, Saapato fell in love with Mother Nature’s force. This is told through a beautiful meditative song collection that acts like a relaxant and a tour guide.

‘Morning Swale Song’ opens the album with light airy drone synth pads that allow reeds, boggy water and wind to cast their spells on the listener. At times it sounds like we are wading through the Swale as the water ripples out through the speakers. It’s extremely immersive and headphones are recommended throughout. As water turns to reeds and nighttime crickets, ‘Bayfront Reeds and Grass’ showcases the nightlife buzzes and brushes of grass in the wind. Empty, hollow and cave-like synths float around like clouds. Whilst they are melodic, they don’t draw on a direct melody, as if the song itself is blowing in the wind.

After a breezy opening duo, the hard audio switch to the torrential rain of ‘Midday Storm Dissolving’ is harsh and unexpected. This six-and-a-half-minute track is a clever audio transitional piece. The rain starts off backed up by light synths but as the rain softens, the synths take on a note trickle of rain. It’s so beautifully done. The keyboards becoming a cascade of water is an ingenious idea and then the synths fade into warm, fragile and restorative organs. The song’s last two minutes are like a cosy hug.

The flip side is the ten-minute ‘Sanderlings Feeding At Sunset’. As we hear waves crashing from right to left on our speakers, the birds chirp away with glee. All the synths have a dusty hue to them. They’ve been in the sun too long and sound overexposed before fading away for an extended field recording of the waves and birds living their best lives.

‘Ebbing (Shoreline, Dunes, Butterflies, Silence)’ is the odd track out. This is a damaged track. The synths are frazzled and the field recordings are aggressive. Samples buzz in and out in overdrive as if we have flown a drone around the island at speed. This tees up the epic 18-minute title track to close the album. The track covers 24 hours from day-night-day, using the ecosystem of Fire Island to tell the tale. The wind and water dominate as various synths and organs meander around providing embellishment to nature herself. It is a wholesome way to close the record.

Saapato’s canny knack for accentuating field recordings with melodic and understated synths serves up a treat with ‘On Fire Island’. This isn’t an album that sticks in your head but an audio experience instead. It is like a tour of a world you might have seen but never heard. I felt like I was camping right beside Saapato admiring the aural landscapes and scenic beauty of the National Park. Ambient and nature recording lovers – you’ll love this relaxing journey. Especially with good quality headphones for the panoramic effects.

Recommended track: Midday Storm Dissolving

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