(03.10.07) On first listen I was nearly ready to just write this album off as a mid to
late period Autechre clone with some BOC style analog sounds added in as an
attempt to get some more kick out of an old horse. Thankfully further
listens showed that there is indeed more to this release than it just being
another production heavy IDM record. After all there’s so many of those
around that we don’t really need another one.
While Mormo wears his Autechre influence firmly stamped on his sleeve in
glowing neon, he does add his own feel into the mix. Especially when it
comes to the melodies. There’s something about the slippery way Mormo does
melodies that you just can’t seem to grasp onto them. The moment you think
you have what he’s doing in the palm of your hand he’ll suddenly throw you a
curve-ball like a series of out of key notes or a complete direction change.
It’s like chasing someone down a maze of tunnels, just as you’ve nearly
caught up to them they dive down a side street you didn’t see and you almost
have to start again. But thankfully it’s an enjoyable chase and not a
frustrating one.
When it comes the the rhythm and general sound you can’t escape away from
that Confield feel with a bit of “Chiastic Slide” in there to add some
stability. Mormo undoubtedly does it well though, he is clearly adept at the
art of sonic manipulation and microscopic rhythms but as good as it is, you
can’t help feeling from the rhythmic side that you have heard it all before.
However he has a lovely command of grainy ambiences and sweet almost
uncontrolled basses.
I enjoyed this album the most when I stopped analyzing it and just started
listening to it. Letting it flow over me and not trying to grasp a melody or
a style. As I said above, the melodies try to escape away from you but I
feel that this is intentional as if you’re not meant to get the melodies and
are supposed to take every individual little change by itself, as your
unconscious mind does when it simply floats over you. The other thing you
get from this as well when you just listen is you almost start to feel some
of the artists origins coming through to you. As if the record has somehow
managed to capture some of the Greek sunshine in-between the notes and
ambiences.
All in all Wasting 500 Sounds is a very well executed album with expression
that you can allow yourself to disappear into. However the fact that it
feels very derivative at first may put some listeners off if they’re
unwilling to put the effort in.
Wasting 500 Sounds is out now on Low Impedance
