I’ve been trying to do more editions of The List, in the absence of a steadier stream of articles. You readers seem to really like them and I do enjoy sharing good music with you. So it seems like a win-win(-win)? Here goes.
Mecha Maiko — “Crawl”
Juno Award-nominated electronic musician and longtime Vehlinggo mainstay Mecha Maiko is back with an absolutely killer new single, “Crawl.” Her hushed vocals with poignant lyrics glide easily over a hard-edged electro foundation. This is a must-have for Mecha fans, but really I think anyone interested in a different side of electronic and dance music will dig this. It’s the first single from her forthcoming album, Nervous System, coming this spring via Right Click 2 Download. (A bonus: The single comes with two sick remixes from Ninechecker and Go Nuclear.) The single is available on Bandcamp and streaming.
Code Elektro — Seven Dunes
Code Elektro (AKA Martin Ahm Nielsen) makes some of the best cinematic/sci-fi-inspired instrumental synthwave out there. I am admittedly biased: I’ve written liner notes for his live album and also featured him many times in this publication (although, admittedly, I’ve missed some releases over the past couple of years). Nevertheless, I feel this way because he lives up to the hype. On Dunes, Code Elektro unfurls a captivating array of synths that recall the Berlin School that often pulsate atop some powerful dance beats — a blend he’s used to great effect since his debut more than a decade ago. Also notable about this album is that the inimitable John Bergin again applies his vast visual art talent to craft a downright stunning cover. A note: If they ever make another Tron flick, they really need to give ol’ Martin a call.
Matthew Swiezynski — “Dream Evocation”
New York-based Matthew Swiezynski excels at turning noise and chaos into listenable and important artistry. A recent track of his, “Dream Evocation,” is the soundtrack to his unconventional 2024 film of the same name. It’s part of a series he’s created called Dreams. An interesting aspect of the interplay between the music and the film is that there is a physiological intent. As he put it in press materials: “The use of both aggressive and transcendent images brings the viewer to a dream outside of time, exaggerated by a high rate of movement, unrelated moods focused on various names of otherworldly phenomenon. This has been coupled with sound projections culminating in a rhythmic trance music which can induce an altered state of consciousness that allows communications with spirits and induce dreamlike states.” I can see where he’s coming from. Take a really deliberative listen to “Dream Evocation.” You’ll hear everything from field recordings of trickling brooks and active birds flying around gorgeous synth pads and sharp-edged strings, with abrasive noise interjections serving almost as correctives to any kind of complacency. You can buy the track from his Bandcamp page and also watch the film on YouTube (see embed below).
Blackbird Blackbird — “Don’t Wait”
Californian Mikey Maramag’s Blackbird Blackbird project just released a massive 22-track album entitled Dreamstuck. A noteworthy (and very catchy) cut is the minimalistic “Don’t Wait,” which has a chilled-out but determined strut for a rhythm and breezy synths swirling around pronounced piano stabs and his, well, dreamy vocals. Maramag shows that a song can pack a massive punch even if it’s couched in tempered serenity. Also, check out his Bandcamp page for the whole story behind the recording of the album. It’s an interesting meditation on artistic discipline in the face of trauma.
Encore
