Miki Bernath and Damolh33 – Flat/Surfaces (Cassette Album – 4mg Records)
Genre/Influences: Electro-ambient, experimental, IDM.
Background/Info: Miki and Gabriel Bernath both are Slovakian producers. Miki Bernath got some recognition as Imiafan. Both artists have accomplished this work featuring 6 cuts plus 2 bonus tracks for the digital format. The cassette is limited to 70 copies!
+ + + : This is an interesting trip through electro-ambient compositions with astral sound treatments. A few spoken samplings can be heard. The tracks are progressively revealing slow and broken beats, dark bleeping sequences and especially a minimal approach that comes mainly through at both bonus cuts.
– – – : Nevertheless the experimental influences of this record, “Flat/Surfaces” also reveals a great sonic intelligence. It’s a sophisticated- although accessible work with some cool space-like atmospheres recovering most of the songs. The slow cadence gets the music even more accessible. Both bonus tracks are my absolute favorites so you definitely have a good reason to discover the digital version while the cassette release is a nice collector’s item.
Conclusion: Miki Bernath and Damolh33 have achieved a work with a great electronic intelligence. It’s just a pity ‘intelligent’ music remains often praised by a restricted number of music lovers. Well, I can say they won’t be disappointed discovering “Flat/Surfaces”.
Best songs: “Flat Surfaces”, “Press Gives”, “Search”, “Life Goes”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/mikulas.bernath.1
Label: www.facebook.com/4mgRecords
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
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.
