DiN Machine's new release Opposites of Unity may not be everyone's cup of tea. I'll say that right off the bat. But. If you're interested in hearing a mix that's truly eclectic and challenges what you define music as, you owe yourself a trip to this audible art exhibit.
Photo credit: Erin Albrecht
The opening track of the six song compilation, "eW.A.F.T.", is very danceable - and it should be! The track itself was sampled from Earth, Wind & Fire and then twisted in all different directions to give an EDM feel and a unique expression. It feels like a surge of waves of dance music - and yes, I found myself dancing along on first listen. Like literally. "Oh, I'm dancing in my chair. This is good."
Fans of a different kind of dance will enjoy track "Brisé". Created for the modern dance choreographer Liz Gerring (check out her work here - she is inspiring!), this track compiles all the things you'd expect to find in a modern dance track - the sound of waves, the sound of kids in a playground. It's not danceable to the average person - sorry, diN Machine - but does it treat your ear to something eclectic that it wouldn't know to ask for on its own? Yes, and it's worth the trip to this audible exploration.
"Jabbr Wawky" is as experimental as you get. Featuring a mix with instruments and non throughout, it makes you wonder how they even made this rhythmic without just being a cacophonic mess. It also begs the question: where is the best case scenario to listen to this? It can't be in a car - there are tracks of a cop car haphazardly thrown in alongside unconventional samples of billiards, ping pong, an auctioneer, as if the group had decided to create a crosswalk jambalaya. Does it work as a song? Yes and no. It's not the sort of melody you'll get stuck in your head. You'll never find yourself honking along absentmindedly in a shower. But does it stretch the imagination about what could be considered music, where it can be found, and provoke you to think about your own tastes? Yes, yes, it does.
"Dbl Trbl" may be the band's attempt at Latin music, but because of the heavy electronica and cowbell - yes! More cowbell! - it comes off as a sort of 8-bit jam. I wouldn't be surprised if an all 8-bit version of this was scooped up for a Mario Brothers racing level reboot. It's an energizing bolt that feels like what must happen when you drink an energy drink.
"Give And Go" is, in the band's own words, a basketball game. Like a knowing friend who winks and tells you "this is the secret of this painting," it makes the listening much more intriguing because now you know how to interpret what again could be on first listen very eclectic choices. It's got the organized sound of the electronic instruments that make you feel like there's a band on the sidelines. This mixed with the squeaking sound of shoes on a court makes you feel like you're watching the teams drive towards the goal line.
The song "Fawcett" is a welcome addition to the small field of danceable experimental jams. If you don't start dancing along with its tribal rhythm, I'd be very surprised. It has a samba feel paired with strings and piano that not only work together but work hand in hand. Still - there are jolts here and there of unconventional additions (is that a bike tire sound? A whirring paint shaker? What is the break sound?).
It's a far cry from where the album started - and if this is the band's ultimate progression, then hopefully it's a sign of learning how to master a homemade blend that keeps the listener on their toes.
Photo credit: Suzanne Saroff