I'm starting a new feature on mondays on my blog here, where I will spotlight a new electronic musician/band and some of their music. There is alot of exciting new music out there that isn't immediately easy to find, so I thought I might do my part in bringing some of that to the surface. If you have are and electronic musician/group and would like to send me your stuff for consideration you can email me the link to your Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Website or MySpace page at redfaux01 AT gmail dot com. Your stuff should be available for sale or download.
So to kick things off I'd like to introduce:
"I Hear Your Signals" by Mark Mosher
Released July 13th, 2010
Mark Mosher is an electronic musician from Lousiville, Colorado who specializes in his own brand of techno-ish, industrial & experimentally tinged instrumentals. "I Hear Your Signals" follows up Mark's pervious release "Reboot" which came out last year. Unlike the last album, this new album was composed around using the following devices live: Percussa Audio Cubes, Theremin and the Tenori-ON. However, like the previous album, this album when listened to in its intended sequence is supposed to tell a story. I appreciate that Mark doesn't tell you what that story is. He prefers to let his music do the talking while he offers austere clues such as the titles of the tracks and leaves the rest up to the listener.
This album is 8 tracks, not much longer than the 7-song release of Re-boot. I appreciate the shorter album format because it seems now adays I don't have enough time to fully digest a typical 12 song album before moving on to the next, and the price point for these shorter albums is usually quite a bit lower. Mark's intuition is spot on because 7 to 8 songs on a release is just about right.
Lets take a brief look at these 8 tracks.
1. Arrival - Space spreads out before you. The downtempo beat ushers you along into a techno-ish and wistful feel. The Theremin makes a tasteful appearance about 2 minutes into the song.
2. First Orbit - This track is more up beat, showing more EBM and techno stylings with some Kraftwerk flavorings. This track sets up a sci-fi backdrop for the rest of the album's story to take place.
3. Control Zone - This track is more down tempo like "Arrival" however, more experimental. The lead synth sings with technical difficulties reserved only for technology long forgotton. Velvety guitar-like strums modulate pitches as if posessed by some dark industrial motivation.
4. I Can See them - The track which begins with disembodied voices whispering "I can see them" "They're all around us... Don't trust anyone" hails images of zombies or aliens in a clausterphobic aural backdrop. Percussion pings around the stereo field. Spectral type delays shift and scurry about your ears. The track ends with an anxious bassline urging you to get the f* out of there... where ever you are... The track ends with a reprieve of the voices echoing a sort of "I told you so..."
5. When Connected - There is a synergy about this track that that sets up a false sense of security. Machines musically whirr and breathe behind minimalistic bass lines and percussion.
6. Celebration and Voices - This track is all machines and metal chimes... the fusilage of the space ship sings like a mechanical choir.
7. Dark Signals - This track shows EBM roots in an almost militant fashion announcing the state of things... cold and calculated.
8. Resolute - This feels like the credits track to Mark's story. The song carries a certain sense of resolution about it. Rythmic gated synths and a driving tempo are accompianied by a an intriguing vacuum cleaner like chorus.
This is a great electronic release that doesn't take itself too seriously or try to marry itself to a particular genre. Mark does a great job of somehow sounding fresh and new in a style of music that has been over run with derivitive content. I highly suggest you check this out...
I hear Your Signals is available through multiple outlets. Check out Mark Mosher Music for more information. Also, check out Mark's blog "Modulate This" for some fun facts about the new album: HERE.
-Enjoy
RED
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