Heartbeats is a superb addition to Martin’s already impressive catalogue. For the seasoned listener, it finds the dutchman building on his past sound while introducing brand new concepts. For anyone new to this amazingly able artist, it will give a good idea of what Ian Martin is all about.
This synthesist delves into the murky undercurrents of his machines
“You can’t make a living in electronic music anymore.” Whether or not Dublin’s Donnacha Costello said that or not, I will forever attribute the line to the son of D1. Despite the questions looming over its source, the sentiments are difficult to deny.
True, there are some musicians who have carved a life out of their machines. Yet, the majority of expert knob twiddlers are tied to a day job to make the midi cables meet. Those who can put bread on the table from their craft are often artists who released from the 90s into the very early 00s. I always wonder what would have happened to some musicians if their focus was their sound, if there was nothing between them and their creating. Ian Martin, for example.
Martin is an amazingly able and prolific producer. After his first appearance in 2009, the dutchman has released a veritable feast on labels like Bunker, Bio-Rhythm and Further as well as Legowelt’s Strange Life Records. His skill for styles is beyond admirable, turning his hand to anything from ambient and drone to electro and synth.
For his new EP, Heartbeats on Onrijn, this synthesist delves into the murky undercurrents of his machines. Rasping drum patterns and stabbing chords introduce the frigid title piece before the cinematic shadows of “Conservative Chakra.” Martin draws on the silver screen; trailing smoke and the threat of violence interlace in the cheerily horror inspired “God Theme.”
The flip opens with the clean drum patterns of “Fugitive Dust.” A different route is taken with this piece. Lighter notes float above noodling keys with Martin melting brighter and darker tones. Those warmer hues continue into “California Digital.” A helter-skelter melody spirals around a steady beat, off-kilter stabs seesawing in this lilting track. The water themed “Daydream” closes. Stuttering arpeggios are washed in dripping hi-hats with brooding bass and wide-eyed pipes adding a sense of the impossible to this cracking close.
Heartbeats is a superb addition to Martin’s already impressive catalogue. For the seasoned listener, it finds the dutchman building on his past sound while introducing brand new concepts. For anyone new to this amazingly able artist, it will give a good idea of what Ian Martin is all about. Who knows where Ian Martin would be if he had been producing and releasing in the 90s. One thing we can be sure of, in the year 2021 the quality of music from Rotterdam resident is second to none.
Heartbeats is available on Onrijn. [Bandcamp]
