Electronic music without limits or barriers, building on abstractions of the past, and shows us a route to the future.
Journey to the centre of the synth!
For those interested in the latest release Descent by exm (aka Jeroen Bax) from the Netherlands, expect to be brought on a journey that joins the listener with a character, one whom is discontented with the superficial surface world, our dystopian reality. The man / woman / creature decides to descend away from our surface, shallow existence in search of a different life, deep within the earth’s core, away from mega-corporations, useless politicians, and millennial flavored shallow existences.
The album was given its public debut by Touched Music using the Mixlr social broadcast solution. Followers of the artist or label and new guests were able to enjoy an artist mix followed by the album played in full, with the purchase going live towards the end of the listening party. Attendees included the artist himself, Mr. Martin Boulton of Touched Music hosting, fans and other label related artists. Some interesting notes shared there by the artist himself provided the breadcrumbs to help listeners gain insights during the broadcast. Chat in the message room really makes the Mixlr experience interactive and fun too. Being a concept album, Descent brings the listener down through the various strata making up the planet, from surface right down to the Earth’s core. It could be the soundtrack to an otherwise silent movie depicting this journey.
Both beauty and beast, in equal measure ::
exm here delivers what I have seen described by others as “some next level shit!“—a sentiment I heartily agree with. Jeroen really exercises fantastic technical skills to deliver his concepts to astounding effect. This album is both beauty and beast, in equal measure.
The opening notes grab you, but not in the way one might expect. There is something cheesy and tepid about the opening sequences. “Slew” reeks of modern processed fast food and corporate sludge, indigestible and nasty. Then come perpendicular sonic phrases, which serve as the mega-pharmaceuticals answer to make the sludge digestible. Field sounds evoking sewers add to that uneasy feeling. Whilst I personally don’t listen on headphones much these days, I think this album would work well with them. Headphones would add to the immersive elements to be found within.
Tonal and sequential themes within tracks of the album really gel with the idea of “descent” and tunneling deep into the planet. Melodies with notes dropping down through music scales evoking the feel of construction tools, or someone digging downwards, “the descent has begun.” But where there is darkness, light also exists, and this is equally expressed with beautiful expressive melodic phrases. Fans of more complex and engaging electronica should really enjoy this challenge for your ears, listening equipment, and imagination.
A landmark and legend in no time ::
“No Surface” feels like the stop off mid journey, before continuing onward, with “Death Of Sarah” hinting at a possible reason for the protagonists mental state, and catalyst for the need to escape their current reality, instead to bury themself in journey. Finally reaching the closing track “Core” we sense a destination, one where the listener is no longer alone. Subterranean creatures join the sonic tapestry, and the Core heats up and makes one wonder will this story have a Season 2?
This aurally stunning release will be landmark and legend in no time. People may regret not attending the listening party, and potentially missing out on the opportunity to acquire the limited physical release, which includes 150 double crystal clear vinyl sets and 150 CD editions, but there is of course digital. At the time this was written the are still physical items in stock.
exm is partially responsible for one of my other favorite releases of 2021 with Martin Boulton, Odd Radio Circle under the shared moniker Heogen. exm demonstrates skills to produce simple, beautiful and immediately lovable works like the Heogen album, but also far more complex and neurally engaging works like Descent.
This is electronic music without limits or barriers, building on abstractions of the past, and shows us a route to the future. Highly recommended for fans of sonic challengers like Autechre, Bola, Clark and Sonic Area, or labels who travel beyond basic electronica like Warp, Skam, Ant-Zen, Hymen, n5MD, and Tympanik Audio (RIP). Probably also for fans of literary authors like H.G Wells, Isaac Asimov, Aldous Huxley, Stephen King and even Flann O’Brien!
Descent is available on Touched Music. [Bandcamp]
