LMX – Ctrl+S (Album – Meshwork Music)
Genre/Influences: Ambient-Electro, Cinematographic, Experimental.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Two years after the debut album “Dimension Shift” LMX strikes back with a new work featuring thirteen tracks. LMX is a young artist of seventeen years old, “Seventeen” being also the title of a great EP released by his father Sevren Ni-Arb aka X Marks The Pedwalk. The title refers to special events in our lives, we’re saving in our memories like Ctrl+S saves files at your computer.
Content: If LMX’s debut album was a bit hesitant, “Ctrl+S” reflects a surprising maturity in sound and especially from being composed by such a young artist. The main influences are clearly Ambient-Electro like; a kind of imaginary astral voyage driven by slow rhythms. Another and main difference with the debut work is the addition of vocals and some samplings (of female chants). The vocals have been produced a pretty robotic way, like a computer voice. Some songs remain however instrumental edits.
+ + + : LMX took me by surprise. There’s an impressive evolution in sound and global approach. It remains a very personal interpretation of Ambient-Electronics, but the tracks are more cohesive and diversified. The work, which has been produced by LMX and Sevren Ni-Arb, sounds mature and accomplished. The addition of vocals, but especially the way they’ve been produced, is absolutely remarkable. The sampled chants running through “Pernicious” add an elevating effect to the song. But I also have to mention the instrumental “Clare” for its subtle sound arrangements. “Freakshow” is another attention grabber for its harder kick.
– – – : I think a few tracks could have been more extended and elaborated. When you’re into Ambient music there’s nothing wrong with composing longer cuts.
Conclusion: I’m not saying LMX is reinventing Ambient-Electro, but this young artist is adding a refreshing and contemporary touch to the genre.
Best songs: “Pernicious”, “Clare”, “Freakshow”, “My Own Planet”, “Simplicity”, “Shellshock”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: https://lmxmusic.bandcamp.com
Label: www.meshwork-music.com / www.facebook.com/meshwork.music
About LMX
LMX is the electro project of a Munster, Germany-based artist who released his debut album, “Dimension Shift”, as an instrumental-only work before “CTRL+S” in March 2021. Side-Line reported in 2022 that LMX was returning with the album “Habits & Addictions”, again produced by his father Sevren Ni-Arb of X Marks The Pedwalk, and spoke with the artist in a 2023 Click Interview.
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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.
