Genre : Indie/Experimental/Shoegaze
Arguably the most anticipated release in n5MD’s history, “Epilogue in Waves”, the third album from owner Mike Cadoo’s Bitcrush project, continues the fine traditions of his imprint, melding an emotional aesthetic to much of his music. Two years in the making, this is his most cohesive and fully-realised record yet, as the Californian-based musician advances the evolutionary nature of the Bitcrush sound.
‘The Bitcrush sound’ is a key component in this album’s appeal. This is clearly the work of Cadoo, no other band or artist can sound like this. Throughout “Epilogue...” Bitcrush switches between warm ambient synthscapes or rich, electronic-laced shoegaze, often presenting tracks that effortlessly braid both styles together. He deftly navigates between both, while structuring them into his trademarked, epic compositions.
Cadoo, in fact, does epic by the bucketload, but it is the seamless mix of organic and electronic instrumentation that is the most striking aspect of Bitcrush on this form. Resonating guitar textures float freely with dreamy synths, as echoic vocals dissolve amidst the electronically-charged live drum sound. In short, those with no prior knowledge of Bitcrush could be forgiven for thinking that this was the work of a fully-fledged band rather than just one man. “Of Days”, for example, unusually follows a verse-chorus-verse like structure rising from a tranquil passage of slo-mo beats and clouded melodies into a full-blown ‘stadium-rock’ chorus.
While many artists simply over-load their music with a succession of effects, Bitcrush is different. His music is measured with every tone, note, melody and electronic pulse strategically placed. The electronics in particular, much like the vocals, do not insist upon the listener, instead they augment the overall feel of each track. There is a certain comfortable solace to a piece like “Pearl”, for example, that one would associate with a late-night drive through deserted, rain-swept roads. Cadoo spends several minutes developing such a nocturnal atmosphere, the cavernous synth waves emanating with a degree of warmth. Only the forceful volley of percussion halfway through will wake you from such a glorious cocoon of sound.
“An Island, A Peninsula”, meanwhile, nods to those early Sigur Ros comparisons with its torrents of arcing guitar and revolving, crashing percussion, while the taut Joy Division-esque bassline of “Epilogue in Tides” shifts the melodic focus from the layers of heavenly synthesizer and guitar. Cadoo, it should be noted, is also adept when it comes to changing the pace of his records, many albums often suffer from lack of variety where bands take a good idea and run it into the ground. Not on “Epilogue in Waves” though; whether it is the euphoric William Orbit-like ambience of “Prologue” or the pulsating end of “Pearl”, the Bitcrush experience remains riveting due to Cadoo’s guidance.
Of course, all of this is underpinned by the level of emotion we’ve come to expect of n5MD. But then Cadoo has been leaving clues all along, even the ‘Bitcrush’ moniker hints at a man/machine existence, an existence where man controls such devices to his advantage -- and this is where Cadoo’s Bitcrush project excels. Whatever your take is, “Epilogue in Waves” is clearly the soul of the Bitcrush machine.
1. Prologue
2. An Island, A Penninsula
3. Of Days
4. Tides
5. What Would Hope Be Without Disappointment
6. Atreaux
7. A False Movement, True
8. Epilogue To Tides
9. Pearl
10. To Drown
get it
buy it
