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.

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Time Resonance Music - Eclecta I

Eclecta I is the first compilation from Time Resonance Music, a label curated and created by Russian producer Slava Mindex. As its name suggests, it’s an eclectic mix that shifts between more laid-back tunes from artists such as Supertask, Primate and 5AM to some heavier sounds from Hullabalo0 and Spirit Tech. But despite the variation in energy, there is a clean, deeply organic quality consistent throughout the compilation.

The 17-track project opens with a lush downtempo track from Dillard featuring sultry guitar riffs wandering through hazy pads and long-tailed, misty reverbs. From here the music moves through a multitude of micro-genres. Although how one chooses to label these genres is both up for interpretation and somewhat of a moot point, it can be helpful to throw tiny descriptions on to the music and see what sticks. “Downtempo” describes most of the tracks on Eclecta I, but this ranges from breakbeat to melodic IDM, to hip-hop.

This complexity sets Time Resonance apart from many labels, and a single track might traverse multiple genres. Take for example the collaboration between Mindex and Supertask, “Butterfly FX”. It floats seamlessly between sing-song melodies and alien sound design. Although arranged and harmonized much like a lullaby, the song unfolds to reveal a heavy, growling bass, twisting and unfurling itself beneath bells and tender flutes, oozing throughout the stereo space. The simple, sensual tastes of Supertask blend nicely with Mindex’s colorful and curious imagination, opening up a psychedelic space within the compilation that is a defining quality of the Time Resonance label. A surprisingly chill kLL sMTH tune follows suit with open, deceptively simple melodies steeped in bubbly sound design. The energy begins to escalate with 5AM’s sunny mid-tempo track “Multiplex”, leading into some heavier sounds to follow and be dispersed throughout the compilation. Mindex and Zenturion’s “CBD”, Spirit Tech’s “Astral Bodies” and especially Hullabalo0’s “Abeba” share the bulk of the heavier psy bass within the compilation.

From aqueous samples, to background vocals, to crunchy percussive textures, there is some element of nature and life to be found in each track on “Eclecta”. Although Mindex himself is probably best known for his mind-bending, spine-tingling neuro-bass sound design, this should not come as a surprise. The sounds alone do not create the powerful effect imparted on to the listener. It is the way in which the sounds interact with each other, the way in which he weaves them together, that bring them to life. When this occurs, a piece of music begins to speak its own language, one that we intuitively understand. This is emblematic of patterns and symbiotic relationships that occur throughout nature, and further defined by the literal sonic representations of natural elements such as grass, trees, water, and human voices present throughout this compilation.

Only through a deep love, fascination and dedication to the pure physics of sound and music can one truly tap into this language. Slava and his like-minded friends on this compilation speak this language fluently, and with Eclecta they’ve graciously invited us into their conversation.

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