Release Date: 22 June 2018
Song Count: 6
Duration: 30 minutes, 42 seconds
Rating: 8.0/10
Description:
Song Count: 6
Duration: 30 minutes, 42 seconds
Rating: 8.0/10
Description:
Not to be confused with the American band of the same name that makes Latin-tinged rock 'n' roll music. This is a solo electronic producer from France, and one whose work we have actually had exposure to before, in the form of a remix to the three mysterious musketeers of Magic Sword. Co-existing in an adjacent music-making space in the world of wavy electronic music, he takes the many inspirations he has mentally gathered over the years to produce music reminiscent of things that one may not even be aware of their ability to be induced through simple tunes like this. Old Soul is an album (or EP? The internet seems conflicted) that is one such case, as in spite of its modern, slick and timely sound, it uplifts past memories and serene times from the listener's cognition seemingly out of nowhere, as its title alludes to, and powerfully hits where it strikes.
A mixture of consistent, punchy beats brought in from IDM, a polished style of production often seen with many mainstream electronic artists, and the light but noticeable grace of the influence of darkwave leads to a dominant sound that is so familiar sounding yet so layered in one-of-a-kind parts at once. It's the sort of music one would imagine playing in a neon light-filled city at night, with its highly composed structure combined with a load of fun melodicism to create an ambience that is difficult to replicate. Especially when build-ups precede the full extent of this enjoyable sound, as is the case with the most popular track "March of Progress", or when softer musical elements are combined with more gritted parts, like with the chorus of "Midnight Child", does it all really end up shining through.
So delightfully typical for 2010's EDM, almost like a sort of time capsule, Old Soul carries plenty of charm and no big moments where it wears off to any degree at all. The songs are very fun to listen to, the specific type of sound concocted through the blend and subtle influence of multiple branches of the genre works well, and MALO gets to showcase his production skills to a greater audience, if only for six songs and thirty minutes in duration overall. This piece has most certainly gotten me plenty intrigued into whatever will be coming next from him after this. If anything, the Side Quest: A B-Sides Adventure remix did the guy's skills a bit of injustice, now that I have actually witnessed one of his solo projects. (No offense to that remix, album or the artists involved, of course! It's still a decent listen, by all means.)