Genre/Influences: Experimental, IDM, electro-minimalism.
Background/Info: Grand Mal X joined hands together with Ant-Zen and earlier this year released the interesting album “Darkness”. This work brings us back to tracks that were originally released on cassette format in between 2010 and 2016.
Content: This Swedish artist reveals an interesting ‘earlier’ work, which was pretty minimal and yet sophisticated. From experimental groovy passages to pure IDM to electro-minimalism which sometimes reminds me to Sleep Chamber, this work covers a wide canvas of influences. It also sounds like some cuts are into pure improvisation while others are featuring field recordings. The half spoken vocals parts are quite noticeable as well.
+ + + : This album mixes sound intelligence and pure minimalism. It sounds definitely experimental like although quite accessible because of the slow rhythms and vocals. I like the varied influences running through this work while the tracks remain pretty compact.
– – – : I noticed a few forgettable cuts and I especially refer to the more soundtrack-orientated passages of the work.
Conclusion: I think it’s a damned good idea to have selected some ‘old’ cassette tracks to put them on CD. Grand Mal X remains an interesting project you really should have to discover if you don’t know it yet.
Best songs: “Stealth Minds”, “Empire Of Spheres”, “Vortex As Inverted Pyramid”, “Tricks Of A Trade”, “Late Night Call”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.grandmalx.com / www.facebook.com/Grand–Mal–x-255832711118252Label: www.ant–zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official
About Grand Mal X
Grand Mal X is the solo project of Swedish musician Karl Rydby, set up in 2010 and mainly active on cassette format in its early years. The project signed to Ant-Zen for the 2018 album “Darkness,” its first official CD release. “Retrospektiv 2010-2016,” reviewed here, collects tracks originally issued on cassette between 2010 and 2016, also released on Ant-Zen in 2018. Grand Mal X split in 2019.
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