London based Domino Records decided it was about time to release a full length by these electricians known as Fizzarum (Dmitry Dubov, Vlad Linder and Dmitry Letakhovsky). Having made a splash with Art-Tek (RU), City Centre Offices (GR), as well as compilation appearance with Surgery (AU), Autumn and Merck Records (US), to name a few; Fizzarum have a magnetic formula of minimal electronics, soft melodies and tiny beats that you just can’t escape. Quality assurance is what you get with Monochrome Plural.
As the electric debris rattles away at your ears, Fizzarum drive a magnetic pulse of soundwaves through your mind that remain locked for quite some time. With the onslaught of gritty experimentation happening around the world with electronics, Fizzarum keeps this sound intact, at all times. As Fizzarum stated on the Domino website: “reflection on the things we don’t have in our reality” is what keeps the sound alive.
Odd tweaks fling around while beautifully laid out snippets of beats, structures and sounds bend and twist in the most pleasant fashion. Call it experimenting with digital textures, or a sonic palette of soothing layers –it’s a step in a direction where electronics will (eventually, and should) head.
“Phut of Plex” appeared on their excellent debut 7″ with City Centre Offices, as well as the lovely “Ursa Majoris” early on with CCO’s 7inch series of releases. “Ursa Majoris” bumps around with a mechanically generated beat (on the minimal side) that is casually morphed above a sincere digital melody and ambient atomospheres. “Micanex” seems to dribble away at an unusally twitching sound remaining in a microscopic state all the way through. “Vesat” is a return to the classic Fizzarum sound where experimental beats churn away and a softly laid out melody waves in the background. But one of the ultimate classics on this full length is the gorgeous “Microphorus” (that also made an appearance on Toytronic Records’ Neurokinetic compilation); this tune is so pleasantly orchestrated and maneuvered that it will require a box of tissues to listen to. Softly propelled keys stroke the back of your mind while an insistent beat penetrates with amazing accuracy. It’s a soft track much in line with Bola, Boards of Canada and Isan –and one that cannot be forgotten due to its perfected melody.
Fizz’ing right along —Monochrome Plural is a decadent mix of casually placed ambient electronics and quirky digital fixes.
