- An IDM disciple digs deep to craft one of CPU's best records yet.
- Andriy Vezdenko's new LP on CPU as Noumen, Obscurium, is one of the Sheffield label's best yet. The Ukrainian artist's second full-length for CPU is cerebral and danceable, sometimes simultaneously. There are nods to classic Schematic, Warp and Rephlex records—Richard Devine's Lipswitch, Autechre's Tri Repetae and µ-Ziq's Tango N' Vectif may be essential points of reference—but the album doesn't feel derivative. Noumen's voice is distinctive, and the dynamic synthesis of IDM, glitch, breakbeat and electro is achieved through a thoughtful, meticulous approach to production. Yet the hand of the maker is seldom seen. Obscurium exudes a sense of organic creation that guides the listener from start to finish.
Obscurium could be called abstract, but abundant melodies and broken rhythms tie it to a recognizable—and highly pleasurable—sphere. Aphex Twin's Collapse EP comes to mind with "Call Of Darkness," which breaks down and builds itself up again like a Transformer. Noumen's arrangements often switch in pitch and rhythmic orientation, challenging listeners' perceptions in the best way. Standouts like "Hydra" and "Haunter" are supported by eerie whistling and jagged Amen breaks, respectively. Elsewhere, Noumen draws subtly from more unexpected sources. "Clinch" makes use of a growling, stadium-ready synth lead, turning it into a crazed yet palatable melody.
"Lock" brings to mind the concept behind Matmos' Quasi-Objects, in which the textural quality of tracks mimic their titles. Syncopated metallic glitches turn in on themselves until the track, in a sense, "unlocks," becoming suddenly rhythmic. Meanwhile on "Fading," childlike melodies finds themselves among malfunctioning bleeps before a purposeful rewiring occurs. Just when you think Noumen has maxed out his ability to surprise, the album ends with the downtempo "Flow Through The Surface," replete with catchy, extra-lush synth chords. In the style of early Miami IDM, this playful sound blunts the music's hard edges, making for an impressive release that's as bizarre as it is enjoyable.
Tracklist01. Mist
02. Hydra
03. Call Of Darkness
04. Haunter
05. Clinch
06. Lock
07. Square
08. Spleen Tear
09. Winter Sighs
10. Arclight
11. Tail
12. Fading
13. Slick Ac
14. Flow Through The Surface