(01.18.08) Over the past 7 years, n5MD has risen to the challenge of meeting the demand for the next level
of quirky electronic music. What started out as a mini-disc only label by Mike Cadoo has evolved
with changing times (as mini-discs are no more) into a solid stable of excellent artists. Cadoo
is no stranger to intense electronic music, as he was once part of the amazing act Gridlock on the
now defunct Pendragon label, releasing incredibly intense explosions of synthesis and noise and
instantly making an impression on the dying industrial music scene. He moved on to form the band
Dryft and is currently recording under the moniker Bitcrush. His sensibilities as an artist have
translated surprisingly well into a label manager as n5md has collected a quality stable of artists,
new and old. Bands like Proem, formerly on the M3rck imprint, the now legendary Funckarma, and
Near The Parenthesis run the sonic gamut from conventional IDM to an almost indie rock pop electronic sound.
One Five Zero is the appropriately named 50th release by n5MD, celebrating 50 challenging releases
for fans of all sorts of electronic sounds.
Naturally, any label compilation has its ups and downs due to the wide variety of styles represented
on any successful label. The acts on n5MD, and thusly One Five Zero all approach electronic music
from a solid song-writing standpoint while adding their own unique sonic textures and arrangement
sensibilities. Make no mistake – this is an IDM-centric release, rife with syncopated glitches, distorted
beats, and cosmic synthesizers. However, like it or not, IDM has been slowly moving towards territories
covered by indie rock musicians. As such, there are elements that feel almost out of place amid
the expert electronic wizardry of acts like Funckarma and subtractiveLAD.
n5MD continues to provide a solid release schedule of excellent artists, and fans of any artist
on the label will enjoy this release. What may be an unintended result of this release is the fact
that the days of riding Aphex Twin & Squarepusher’s coattails are over – electronic artists are no
longer content to simply break beats as fast as possible and merge micro cuts of sonic bit-fuckery;
they are inspired by pop as much as they are quirky sound design.
One Five Zero is out now on n5MD. [Purchase
