Here we see the talented Nor-Cal musician veering into synthesized bliss, allowing myriads of found sounds, acid, glitch, IDM, ambient, breaks, bass, and drums to ricochet from all corners of the playroom.
Glad to see Justin Maxwell in a return to form with Synthesized Sounds For Young Humans delving into a mixture of sonic arches, sleep deprivation, and music crafted for his newborn son. From lullaby electronics—quite literally revising Johannes Brahms’ “Lullaby”—with synthesizer echoes ‘n effects, and a Bass Kittens remix deteriorating via minuscule clips, clicks, and glitch. Here we see the talented Nor-Cal musician veering into synthesized bliss, allowing myriads of found sounds, acid, glitch, IDM, ambient, breaks, bass, and drums to ricochet from all corners of the playroom.
“Twinkle Furtherr” sets “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” ablaze via microscopic modular blips and bleeps as the heart of this tune floats by via shuffling bits and bobbles. The highlight takes shape on “Hush Little Elektrons,” its frenetic jungle beats, low-end, and heavy breaks explode into a cataclysmic electro-techno beauty. “Sunshine” ventures through downtempo dub elements, its drifting rhythm and static bliss are elevated by John Tejada’s masterful synopsis blending deep rumbling for a dance-friendly behemoth. In all, Synthesized Sounds For Young Humans will find comfort in any IDM collectors catalog.
The vast soundscapes created by Justin Maxwell clearly explore the inner workings of early human development, but also continues to seamlessly expand the musical envelope. Offering a plethora of experimental electronic music for body and mind, here we see depth, focus, and playful tunes extracted to new heights. With the 303, various modular machines, and synthesizer-driven music, this is an album of minimal and maximal touching points for all ages to enjoy.
Synthesized Sounds For Young Humans is available on Touched Music.
