Though highly melodic and rhythmically coherent, citizenGreen produces an energy-filled electronic album of consistently sublime textures.
[Release page] citizenGreen (aka Chris Amell, High Grade Media owner/operator) initiates further IDM prowess on his self-titled album released in early December 2012. The press-release blurb suggests distorted ideas, glitched-out percussion, murky basslines and cloudy ambience to describe the albums sonic oeuvre—a clarity in description that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Intelligent dance music may be an appropriate tag line, however, echos of Toytronic Records’ back-catalog are peppered throughout creating an upbeat dynamic that is less experimentation and more finesse. Though highly melodic and rhythmically coherent, citizenGreen produces an energy-filled electronic album of consistently sublime textures.
“Greenhouse Effect (Halocarbon Mix)” takes on tentacles of buzzing bass and a free-flowing aura as “Magnolia Leaf” offers chilled melodic bleeps and fragile rolling percussion. The entire production is crisp and clear as warm basslines make their way through fine-tuned electrical pulses. “Foliage (Vascular Mix)” returns on a slight clip-hop slant—slithering low-end takes over the landscape as the resonance of its original strands remain active. “Pathogen” is a whirlwind of synths in full-force as warm sizzling noise colonizes the entire audio spectrum.
Overall you’ll find serene polyrhythms, subdued melodies, spatial drones and cascading streams that effortlessly fall from the edges of this self-titled release. With “Multiple Instances” and “Luna” delving into the archives of IDM’s past, citizenGreen recreates the genre in a saturated verdant hue and succeeds at keeping his signature intact.
citizenGreen is available on High Grade Media. [Release page | Artwork by noform ~ Sorin Paun]
