Mouth Of Indifference – Counterpoles (Album – MOI Records)
Genre/Influences: IDM, Electronic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: This Italian project was originally set up in 1993. “Counterpoles” is the first new album in years so it might be considered a return.
Content: The sound is clearly switching between elaborated and intelligent Electronics at one side and a more dreamy and Ambient approach on the other. Globally speaking the album is recovered with IDM reminding me of Clock DVA. The vocals are sometimes half-spoken like, but mainly creating a ghost-like effect. The opus features 10 songs plus 4 additional cuts/remixes.
+ + + : The best parts of the album are reminding the sound intelligence of clock DVA. Composed with deep, vibrating bass lines, menacing dark sound layers and ghost-like vocals, these songs have been also achieved with numerous, little details and noises. “Affect As Information”, “Worst Case Scenario”, “The Body Keeps The Score” and “Brutal People” reveal the true genius of this artist.
– – – : The remixes or alternative edits don’t really add a bonus to the work. From a very personal and selfish point of view I think it’s a pity the entire album doesn’t sound in the line of the aforementioned tracks.
Conclusion: “Counterpoles” is a kind of sonic Janus; an album with two faces featuring a magic IDM side.
Best songs: “Affect As Information”, “Worst Case Scenario”, “The Body Keeps The Score”, “Brutal People”.
Rate: 8.
Listen to “Counterpoles”:
Artist & Label: www.mouthofindifference.com / www.facebook.com/Mouth-of-Indifference-41512691234
About Mouth Of Indifference
Mouth Of Indifference is an Italian electronic project set up in 1993. Discogs lists the cassette albums “Dichotic Listening” in 1994 and “Internal Saboteur” in 1996, both self-released with Carcinoma, followed by the CDr releases “Atari Age ’94-’96” in 2000 and “Steps To An Ecology Of Mind” in 2003 on Carcinoma.
“Counterpoles” appeared in 2021, with MOI Records also issuing the single “Brutal People” that year. The project has continued to release singles since, among them “Won’t Be The One” in 2024 and “The Perfect Plug / The Sun And The Rainfall” in 2025.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
