I think this current spate of labels signing up and consequently releasing artists who do not usually conform to the rest of the stable is a wholly positive side effect of the current stagnation of the mainstream music scene. Take Cex for example – it’s just one guy by the name of Rjyan Kidwell and his computer making crazy sounds that totally defy classification. One minute he’s ripping out a NIN-esque tech stomper and the next he’s gone all sensitive on us. Not exactly your common or garden Jade Tree release.
Usually I’m a touch wary of computer-formed acoustic-based ballads but I’ll make an exception for the sheer sensitivity of ‘Take Pills.’ It’s hauntingly beautiful, both basic and layered at the same time and is reminiscent of Bright Eyes in its rawness and affecting nature. Opening track ‘Drive Off A Mountain’ slides from the same kind of low-key musings to a more electronic swirl of sound, moving around like the noises in your head while you dream. Not what you expected to read on Punktastic today? Ah well.
The dirty tension of ‘Kill Me’ is all spiteful anger and malevolent beats, pulsing with sweat and tears. ‘Stop Eating’ could be exhibited in schools as an anti-drugs message, such is the sheer filth of the recording, and it’s difficult to listen to it without imagining Kidwell out of his fucking box on drugs waiting for the worst comedown in history. It’s fascinatingly expressed here, all apologies and regrets.
There’s an honesty to Maryland Mansions that is hidden by the synthetic nature of the songs. Kidwell manages to switch between quiet and loud, large and small sounds without losing his trademark verbosity or original tone. It’s definitely a boon to the album that it contains so many different elements because it escapes strict classification and has an almost chameleonic nature. Underneath the textures is the voice of someone troubled; whether you care or not is another matter. It does get repetitive listening to his sometimes-whiney voice and there are moments when he seems to be holding something back in deference to shock tactics. A mixed bag – if you want to try something different then this could be it, but be warned: it’s not as good as Aphex Twin’s more chilled stuff.
Ben