synthescapism [EP] by Minimums

The synthescapism EP is a collection of tracks written & produced between May 2021 to April 2022.

The opening of Hiatus is a reflection on aspects of life being on hold for over a year, before the second half of the piece comes to life in an attempt to capture the sense of determination to get back out into the world as circumstances allow that to happen. The track was featured as a Fresh on the Net Fresh Fave - the first Minimums track to do so - and the video that I produced to accompany it is available on that piece's Bandcamp page.

Folllowing on from a similar theme, Fifty Two was composed to mark a year since I was able to first travel away after the initial lockdown. That trip in September 2020 left me inspired and was the catalyst for the creation of plenty of new work under multiple guises, including as Minimums (the culmination of which will be my next release, the Bound EP - you can get a flavour of this by listening to Prologue). It was interesting to channel my inner trepidation and excitement over a year ago when I had no idea that it was just a temporary release from being distanced.

Augmented follows on in a similar vein but is actually a homage to a few inspirations of mine, thought the title is a nod to just one of them: the Deus Ex video game series. My geek credentials are never far from view! At my recent debut show at Tomorrow Calling Festival (thanks again to Neil March for inviting me to be a part of it) it was great to have visuals that linked to themes I'm fascinated by - futurism, transhumanism, the link between technology and our evolution as a species, as well as the ethical implications. This piece doesn't go too far down that rabbit hole, but I'd like to think fans of the original Deus Ex, the two prequels (Human Revolution, Mankind Divided) and perhaps the TV adaptation of The Expanse might be able to hear musical influences from each of them shining through a little.

Shadows on Glass was the first of these tracks that I finished but made for an ambiguous, brooding, dark end to the EP. In a way, it ties together the themes of the other pieces, each of which are looking to an uncertain future with more than a little sense of anxiety.

Ambedo and Saudade were originally released as standalone pieces but seemed to fit well with the rest of the tracks so added to the EP retrospectively.

Given the feel and inspiration for this EP, perhaps synthescapism is anything but an antidote to where we still all are at the moment, but I hope you enjoy these tracks as much as I enjoyed making them!

M

Electronic, soundtrack & ambient project.

Public tunes, secret identity.

Influences: Hyrbrid, Royksopp, Orbital

Featured on BBC Introducing's The Mix Tape.

"a virtually perfect arc of sound"
Trust the Doc

"crafted to perfection"
Signal Committee, Fresh on the Net Eclectic Picks

"A cinematic experience"
Only Human Radio

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