Mellowdrama

Mellowdrama

Nick Warren's Global Underground compilation, <i>GU30: Paris</i>, was for many their first exposure to the music of Joey Fehrenbach. It would be a shame if it were also their last, since his debut, <i>Mellowdrama</i>, is an extraordinary piece of downtempo electronica. And while the album will surely invite comparisons to the work of German electronica maestro Ulrich Schnauss, Fehrenbach's sound is entirely his own. This is no doubt due to the artist's skills with sound design, which allow the tracks to percolate with both woozy trip-hop effervescence and crystalline melodies at once. <i>Mellowdrama</i> also sets itself apart from the standard compilation-oriented downtempo fare in the instrumentation department: elements are thrown into the mix not gratuitously, but suggestively. A prime example of this is "Particles," where far away-sounding vocal samples, lilting legato guitar, steel drums, and upright bass weave themselves into a hypnotic sonic tapestry. Other standouts include the two tracks featured on <i>GU30</i> ("Being Around You" and "Behold") as well as "Runaway Child"--all compulsively listenable thanks to their haunting, otherworldly synth lines. For fans of forward-thinking electronica, <i>Mellowdrama</i> should not be missed. <i>--Brent Kallmer</i>