The comfort zone
Mux Mool is Brian Lindgren, an American DJ and electronic music producer who is out with the new project Skulltaste II, the sequel to his 2010 album Skulltaste. Lindgren’s style can be deconstructed into a few formulaic elements. Sequenced funky beats and eclectic but simple synth melodies hammer away over chopped up vocal samples. Almost every track on Skulltaste II features these elements. Most of the tracks are fun and easy to listen to, but there is a lack of experimentation and emotionality. There is way too much music these days to not at least try to stand out, and it feels like Lindgren is punching under this weight.
While not very standout, Skulltaste II still delivers solid production and danceable tracks. “Latest Sulk” is a highlight, not overbearing or obviously derivative, the track has real progression, energy and club appeal. The builds and drops are tasteful, the synth’s are lively and the track works. “Sorry For Your Gloss” is another highlight, it’s funky bass grooves and textured, bit crushed instruments make for some nice head bobbing electro funk. The vocal samples and drops feel somewhat uninspired and at the same time over inspired, furthering the case that Lindgren has command of what he is doing but he might be asleep at the wheel. The strangely named “Boner of a Lonely Heart” continues the low stakes electro funk aesthetic, with heavily vocoded vocal samples fitting right in with the square wave synth sequences.
Mux Mool can make some funky, well-produced beats. The problem is none of it feels essential or that interesting. There are artists that do this better, people that take more risks in order to say something important or push a sound forward, and while it’s easy to appreciate Skulltaste II, it’s hard to love it beyond it’s few highlights.
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