Obligate Variants breathes life into broken analog machinery and in conclusion creates otherworldly soundscapes of dust, debris, and decay.
Here we get to absorb Mtch (aka Mitch Cramer) veer somewhat left of his usual in-your-face glitch elements in place of eerie, shape-shifting sonic forces that come to life. The first variant segues into and out of focus, shuffling sounds intersect and collide, dark drones transform into slithering digital bits of confusion, and the result is a smoldering foray into the unknown. This sets the theme for what lurks ahead. The second variant takes a similar approach, albeit with a soundscape trajectory, made from ice slivers that appear to be exhaling and moving about—microscopic glitch-noises drift in the background. Variant three and four compliment each other like distant planets with similar chemical compositions, even though there are hundreds of crossing signals, an alien language evolves—one that we’ll need a few decades to decode perhaps. Mtch’s fifth variant falls apart at the seams—an atmospheric veil is carefully draped above a slow motion avalanche of crepuscular clicks and cuts that eventually fade away. Obligate Variants breathes life into broken analog machinery and in conclusion creates otherworldly soundscapes of dust, debris, and decay.
Obligate Variants is available on Future Disorder.
