µ-Ziq - SCURLAGE
Review
µ-Ziq aka Mike Paradinas is back with his first album of new material since 2013 with SCURLAGE, released on Analogical Force, a label that has been making waves in the electronic music scene. Scurlage was written in some rare downtime during the summer 2020 lockdown. Named after a very small peninsula near where Mike wrote these tracks, the front cover is a photograph of Arthur’s Stone, a Neolithic burial ground on the top of the peninsula that inspired many tracks. We were lucky enough to have early access to bring you the first review of this anticipated album that is releasing on May 23rd 2021.
First up is ‘Blakers Loop’, starting with eerie detuned keys and leading into thudding, deep, bass that you can feel in your bones. An orchestral melody layers over, accentuated by piercing synths, building a soundscape of pure intensity. There are samples and textures galore taking you on a journey to a haunted world and we can see where the Neolithic burial ground inspiration comes into play.
The second track ‘Preston Melodics’ takes a more upbeat turn leading with bouncy 90’s era kicks, glitches, clicks and pops. Joined then by a groovy little bassline that hooks you right in, pads that sound light and airy start to swell, as the song progresses and you lose yourself in the complexities of the different elements, ending on an optimistic note that makes you wonder what’s next.
Our personal favourite track ‘Murker’ follows with a dark bopping baselines and what sounds like a deep vocal sample that drones in the background. The energy starts to pick up with hard hitting crashes as the bassline takes hold, joined by an extremely catchy flute-like melody that I know will be stuck in my head for weeks, the different layers flirt with each other in the most satisfying of ways.
Following up is another absolute killer track ‘Slade Teacher’, gracing our ears with fast paced breaks, and a sparkling melody that makes you feel like you are transcending to a realm much more ethereal than our own. A punchier melody joins in and at the half way point a deeper bass catches you off guard, making you want to close your eyes and feel your atoms vibrate and dance along to the sound.
‘Cleaning’, the fifth track on the album explores a more experimental direction. Minimal clicks and cuts grab your attention as your brain latches hold of the patterns, a droning ambience is slightly disorientating and leaves you with a feeling of intrigue as the percussion stutters in and out. ‘Oxwich & Penrise’ takes a completely left turn with chiptune-esque beat that rises and falls, accompanied by bubbling pops and and descending bass. ‘Blauwasser’ opens with a fluttering melody, joyful sounding keys, and synths that ark up and fall back down, leading up to a warm ensemble of sounds that create a feeling of hopeful nostalgia.
Adding to the variety of this album is ‘Sketty’, grabbing your attention with a full and sharp sounding tune, its harshness soon dampened by the swelling of pads and swirling ambience, breaking momentarily to make way for delicate harp-like sounds that are accentuated by deep thuds that pull you back in. Mike continues to deliver future classics with ‘Bentley’, a retro sounding upbeat track, with hints of synthwave the track has a carefree innocence to it. Opening with punchy synths the song grows with a retro 80’s era arpeggio and a gorgeous light melody that feels like it floats above your head while other harmonies slide past.
The album ends on a more ambient note with ‘Strawberry Aero’, starting with the fullest sounding pad I have ever heard, it rises and falls, swelling like a wave, enveloping you with a hug of delicious downtempo ambience. A beautiful soft melody starts that glides and shines in addition to a subdued bass where you can feel the vibration in your chest, the cosy soundscape is a perfect end to a perfect album.
The variety and diversity of influences in this album stand out, each track being completely different, with quality that µ-Ziq never fails to deliver. Keep your ears peeled for the release later this month, its one worth getting excited over.
Artist: µ-Ziq
Label: Analogical Force
Credits
Releases May 28, 2021
Written, produced and mixed by Michael Paradinas in UK
Published by Planet Mu Publishing
Mastering by Carlos Koschitzky at Koschitzky Studio, Gijón
Design by Acid Hazel, Berlin
Distributed by Clone, Rotterdam
