Mokroïé – Machines & Soul (Album – Mokroïé)
Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, trip-hop.
Format: Digital.
Background/Info: This project has been set up by Francesco Virgilio. After having worked with a singer and having released a few EP’s, Mokroïé became a solo-project. For this album, Francesco Virgilio however invited singer ‘Allonymous’. The album was released late 2019 and features eight songs.
Content: Mokroïé’s sound has been described as trip-hop minded. I think it’s true, but it mainly reveals a personal approach to electronic-pop music. The songs are driven by down tempo structures. Sound-wise this album doesn’t sound catchy and melodic like most of the ‘classic’ electro-pop releases. There’s a dense atmospheric curtain supporting most of the songs. Some of the vocals, but especially “Glistening Like Obsidian” reminds me a bit of David Bowie. The last song “Put Your Hands In The Dirt (Soft Minimal Vocal Mix)” is featuring female vocals with male backings.
+ + + : Mokroïé reveals a great sound production, but still remarkable sound treatments. The songs have something danceable, but I especially like the global mood hanging over this work. The instrumental cut “Disoriented” is one of the attention grabbers and has something vaguely future-pop minded. But the best cut is the last one. “Put Your Hands In The Dirt (Soft Minimal Vocal Mix)” has been slowly built up. It moves to a crescendo and creates a great match with the female vocals and male backings.
– – – : I regret this album only features 8 songs.
Conclusion: Mokroïé has something atypical; the sound is not easy to describe, but it’s a fully entertaining listening.
Best songs: “Put Your Hands In The Dirt (Soft Minimal Vocal Mix)”, “Disoriented”, “With these Thoughts”.
Rate: (7).
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