Mindex Opts for a Rhythmic Twist in Trapped

Beginning his euphonic journey in 2011 with the Neverland album on Time Resonance Music, Mindex has thrilled his fans with soundscapes, dance-floor bangers, and tantalizing psychedelic melodies. His expertise in creating works of mind-bending complexity and creativity have come to a head in recent years, catching eyes and ears by surprise whenever the occasion strikes. In lieu of ground shaking bass, the methodical producer has chosen to bring four tracks out of hiding that emit subtle shapes and colorful patterns. His latest EP, Trapped, challenges listeners to explore the many corners and crannies of his stylings while exciting their senses with hip shaking snares and double-timed high hats. 

The Trapped EP explores the psychotropic world of sounds and textures brought to life by colorful tones and vocal riffs. The use of cascading kicks and synthesized drum patterns keeps the listener's ears perked, while long decays in the background bend and tremble. “Ocean Featuring Qoi'' is a jazzy, lo-fi track that has exciting licks of vocals, cascading keys and delicate metallic percussion. The second track, “Happy Trappy'', begins with an echoing melody that gladly meets a happy percussion line. Mindex’s use of double time signatures creates a drippy feeling in all the right places, merging his choice touches with the otherwise disparate genre.

With a consistent and evolving output honed in over years of potent concentration, Mindex has amassed an impressive catalog, and is clearly no closer to tapping out the creative well. Keep yours sharp on further movements from this multi-faceted artist as your ears soak in his latest EP, and you’re sure to see his next body of work just over the horizon.

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Mindex - Membrain EP

Mindex has always had a flair for gradual evolution in sound design, but his newest collection of work firmly reminds us just how deep his rabbit hole goes. The Membrain EP boasts an ominous atmosphere drenched in meticulous audio experimentation. In addition to top-notch mix-down and mastering across the EP, the musical inflections and harmonies are indicative of a producer who’s as much focused on the intention of the music as he is on tearing through unsuspecting sound systems. The casual effervescence that was carried throughout his earlier catalog gives way for a sound that is far denser in its impact, and surprisingly visceral. The EP is being released through Time Resonance Music, owned and operated by Mindex himself. As with his previous release, the Eclipse EP, Threyda has partnered up with Mindex to release a physical, high-quality print of the mind-bending album artwork composed by frequent Mindex collaborator Archan Nair.

"Membrain" starts off the EP with a brain-busting interpretation of 140/70bpm system music. The interlocking synthesis melodies twist and wrap around one another as the wider sonic elements envelope all remaining stereo space. The mid-range bass tones are fresh relief from some of the more popular motifs at the moment, with Mindex instead capitalizing on harmonics and strong filter sweeps throughout the bass line. The drum line is the most straightforward aspect of the arrangement, but leaves no momentum behind.

"Erosion" elaborates further within the 70bpm spectrum, going for a slapstick rhythm that gradually turns over to include all manner of high-register percussive shuffles. The drums are easily the main force of the track, exuding the "glitch factor" that spices up electronic productions beyond their relative musical shelf lives. The low-end synthesis squeezes into the mix from whatever interstellar toothpaste tube it was born in, gurgling through the pockets of space left between massive juggles of snares and hi-hats.  The subtle melodious elements flutter in and out of focus, creating a musical duality of frequencies simultaneously razor-sharp and round-edged.

"Cluster Overload" picks up the pace to around 80bpm, and is the sole mid-tempo song on the EP. Once again, the percussion takes the first spotlight, with smacks, crashes, and crumples darting back and forth throughout the composition. The melody synthesis is sparing and direct, carrying the arrangement through a musical journey that is entirely esoteric. On the other hand, the bass synthesis is gratuitous and constantly morphing into all manner of folds and slices. The elasticity of these mid-range tones has them blasting back and forth like a boomerang amongst the accompanying musical elements, and is the clear glue that reinforces the whole composition.

"Underconscious" closes the EP, slowing things back down a bit and sending the head-space into full hypnosis. The matrixed lead elements take on a droning phenotype, stretching and slaying along the rolled beat underneath. The bass designs are less erratic arrangement than in the previous tracks, with a more staid sonic presentation. The drum lines spurt upward and outward at the end of each phrase, coming to life in moments of musical turnaround and then receding back to the spacial floor of the mix.

Once again, Mindex leaves no sonic stone unturned in his elaborate experimentations and musical musings. For a character as reserved as Slava (Mindex), his music embodies a certain digital bravado that many others can't quite reach. When digesting the Membrain EP, be sure to take the whole thing in one shot, as the tracks have a (not so) curious way of blending right into one another for a seamless aural experience. For the fall, Mindex is currently slated to sling his talents at A Higher Halloween in Philadelphia, PA, for an annual halloween throwdown. If you're in the area, or you're feeling adventurous enough to seek it out from afar, make sure to find yourself directly in the prime vector of the sound system when he rises to the decks.

FOLLOW Mindex:  Bandcamp  /  Facebook  /  Soundcloud  

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Mindex - Eclipsed EP

The Eclipsed EP is the latest addition to the robust catalog of superb psychedelic electronic music from Russian-born producer Mindex. It's dedicated to August 21, 2017,  the date of last year's total solar eclipse. This day had a tremendously profound impact on so many souls, especially those in the music community. "It felt like a new world after that day," said one individual who attended the Tipper & Friends 4321 Gathering in Astral Valley, Missouri. There Mindex offered what fans say was perhaps his most memorable performance to date. With the Eclipsed EP, Slava Mindex releases some of the most memorable moments from that set; may they wash listeners with waves of grounding nostalgia.

For two years, Extended Plays from Mindex have usually been rooted in their own dedicated musical motif, whether that's jazz on Jazzmental, four-on-the-floor on Opal Senses, or uptempo glitch on The Flavor. This latest effort steps away from that pattern. "DNA Dance" and "Arousal" could be characterized as downtempo, and the remaining three tracks as uptempo, but the lines are blurry. As a package, the release leans toward sacred bass more than prior composition from Mindex, but stylistically it's truly all over the map. Classification is ultimately not meaningful. It's just worth noting that Slava is diving into the depths of his own creativity with Eclipsed than he has before, which is saying a great deal considering the diversity of his available catalog.

The title track features a tumbling boulder of sub-bass that slogs at a depressed pace through rinsed out glitches. Hypnosis is induced through ethereal pads and brief melodic interludes from chimes written with great intent, only to be interrupted when the boulder splits and liquid magma spills across the stereo spread. According to Slava, "Evolution" is his "soundtrack for the process of the evolution of life forms on the planet Earth." He sets the stage with an aqueous primordial soundscape. Deep, atavistic tones enter the frame, and percussion follows thereafter. Airy melodies collide with grounding bass synthesizers in a ceaseless churning whirlpool that rips and pulls along its edges. Resolution never arrives, evoking the truth that the process of evolution has by no means reached its conclusion. The process could also be called a "DNA Dance" of sorts. To conclude the EP, this small ambient journey puts the mind at peace and provokes all sorts of anthropological ideations. 

This EP was at first exclusively available from the visionary artist collective Threyda as part of its first ever combined offering of music and art . One can purchase the EP by itself , or pair it with an entrancing, high-quality matte print (one of only 30) of the album cover by artist Ben Ridgeway. The first 20 prints are even signed by Ben and Slava. Considering the endearing mark Slava continues to make on the world and this community, this rare piece of merch will indeed become a treasure. The same can be said for the music. Eclipsed is an incendiary addition to the Mindex catalog and a sonic totem for those seeking to cherish the totality of August 21, 2017, and any other collective conscious memories they may associate with these vibrations. 

FOLLOW Mindex:   Soundcloud   /   Bandcamp   /   Facebook