OPM: Synthetic Mania

M.A.S.R – New World

A conceptually deep and tightly executed trip thru electronic music’s past, present and future that presents a fascinating and immersive listening experience. Incorporating everything from classic techno rhythms to post vaporwave takes on Plunderphonics, these seven tracks offer a fascinating look at a distinctive musical vision. That vision encompasses a lot of ground. 

Besides the bits I’ve already mentioned, you can find nods to nearly everything interesting from electronic music history. Rawboned electro swing sits next to heavily DAW-processed sound explorations; musique concrete techniques are spliced over the top of synthwave chord stabs. Somehow, it all works. Experimental without being hard to listen to, inviting without being obvious, this is definitely worth checking out if you appreciate the full depth and breadth of electronic music.

(Listened to the entire EP)

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The In Betweens – Halloween Sessions 2

Classic indie bedroom pop that puts me in mind of Mercury Rev, Dr. Dog, Beulah or Grandaddy. The songs are short, sharp and clever, with witty lyrics and a subdued vocal delivery that still manages to put across a fair bit of emotion. 

Musically, it’s mostly guitars, bass and drums accompanying these tunes, with bits of synth and/or fx here and there to pretty things up. Overall, this is a golden example of a thoroughly American strain of charming, heartfelt pop– heavy on melody and lyricism, light on gimmicks and flash. 

(Listened to the entire EP)

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autumnal_city – autumnal_city_01

A long, slowly evolving series of pieces that deeply explore timbre and space. Lacking discernible melodies, rhythms or harmonic progressions, these pieces (which are properly taken in toto as a singular, larger piece) fall firmly into the ambient/post-ambient camp, while pulling inspiration also from drone and the more muted side of soundscape. 

The sound palate leans into digital gloss and artifacts, shifting bell-like timbres that stretch out and mutate over time, and weightless drones. Taken as a whole, this is an album that can absolutely destroy your sense of time and space, and I am always here for that.

(Listened to the entire album)

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Downupright – Manic Episode!!

A concept album about the experience of living thru mania that pulls from all kinds of genres to forge a super high-energy hybrid pop explosion. Over the course of a few songs you might hear bits of everything from classic industrial, happy hardcore, and chiptune to metalcore, hyperpop and dubstep. 

Not enough variety yet? How about electro, showtunes, rock and roll and trap? Heck, you’ll probably hear all that, and lots more, in the course of some of these single songs! It’s an effective, and catchy, way to illustrate the central message of the album – at least as long as you aren’t overwhelmed by the absolute, well, mania of it all.

(Listened to songs 2, 5, 8, 10 and 13)

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Riprider – “Shadows of the Broken Strings”

An absolute banger of a track that sounds like the soundtrack to a lost Castlevania spinoff vertical shooter. Super high energy, uptempo four on the floor drums and a ragged but relentless synth bass anchor the piece and give it the sugar-rush high vibe. 

Occasional harpsichord arpeggios bring the Castlevania, while the cut up and mangled strings that glue everything together kind of bridge the gap between the two. Videogame music can sound like anything these days, but I reckon at least some of it should sound like this.

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A parting note: Running this blog/newsletter takes a tremendous amount of time and energy, and a fair bit of money (my hosting is ~$13.50/month). I don’t intend to charge for it ever, but it would be great if those of you who appreciate it would consider the occasional donation/tip. If you can spare a few dollars, maybe hit my Ko-Fi page and show your appreciation? Alternately, you could always buy some of my music…