(02.14.07) Delicate Noise’s Diversion, the debut from pretention-dodging hermit Mark Andrushko, is a slice of instrospective IDM pop that is flush with the somber bleakness found in Recoil’s later work. “Sin” twists itself up with self-flagellation over a lumbering soundtrack of ’80s style synths and crackling beats, while “Artificial Light” haunts a cold-circuit security system with ghostly reverb and cascading synthesizers. As Andrushko dislikes nattering on about himself, he was surprised to discover that his music was so emotionally naked. “Innocence Is What You Are” lurches and staggers with a clip-clop beat, an offset locomotion that belies the veneer of calm indifference offered by the narrative voice.
Echoes of both Massive Attack and Depeche Mode swirl through “Effort of Reduction” as Andrushko dubs out in a vast water cistern where his rhythm section is nothing more than layers of reverberations and his undulating synths become hypnotic snake charmer melodies. “Tinted Nucleus,” a wee pop song that should be filled with jubiliation is tainted by a shadow of reverb, as if some of the ghostly echo of “Effort of Reduction” has found its way into the light of “Tinted Nucleus.” “Simplicity” chatters and moans like an lost outtake to Massive Attack’s Mezzanine, while “Clearly” really drives home how much I’ve missed the orchestral swell of Alan Wilder’s work as Recoil (though, Andrushko has turned out to be a surprisingly good replacement).
Diversion is a record that might slip under your radar if you don’t keep an eye on it. It mutters and sighs with a monologue of carefully wrought rumination, while diverting attetion from itself with its atmospheric electronics and off-kilter beats. But when you pay attention to it, when you bring it close and personal, it explodes with surprising passion.
Diversion is out now on Lens. Buy it at Amazon.com.
