Review of âMEGAâ by BLANK BANSHEE.
If you follow the experimental electronic scene as closely as i do, you will already know that certified mystic and master of disguise Blank Banshee has been conjuring up a new release for a while now. With subtle hints from now and again, to a countdown to what was seemingly nothing- now we know exactly what was in store for us. Notorious for his cutting edge experimental/vaporwave music career shrouded in a full sense of mystery (about almost everything really), Blank Banshee rose to fame with the arrival of his dĂ©but album, the aptly named âBlank Banshee 0â (2012), and again with the arrival of âBlank Banshee 1â -just one year after, in 2013. But since then, Blank Banshee had seemed to have dissipated from the music scene with no notice, with only short posts, if any, on social media sites. A short while ago he began dropping images as hints, with people generally grasping the idea new music was on its way, but with a 3 year sabbatical from his career, it wasnât deemed to be anywhere but the production stage by many- but i had faith. But as hoped, along came 2016, and with that BBâs attempt at a breakthrough comeback album, and with âMEGAâ it is clear that a high-ranking third album is exactly what we got. If you donât believe me, read for yourself:
âTRACK BY TRACK REVIEWâ
BIOS: Serving as an intro track to the new release, âBIOSâ mixes drifting synth leads with computer notification sounds to make an immense, euphoric taster of the album to come. The song is over and done with just as quick as it starts, but i like how it gives a nod to BLANK BANSHEEâS previous albums without giving away too much about the new styles and twists explored in âMEGAâ. 6.5/10
MY MACHINE: As the previous track ends, the instrumental begins to take a darker turn, this time compiling cut-up, delayed vocals over the music to make a catchy but edgy song. The lead synths throughout seem to lend a hand to the track as being one of those that stays in your head despite the fact the majority of the album is still left to listen to. Adding to the âstick-in-your-headâ vibe are the way the lyrics âNo one stops me. My machine knows whatsâs mine, shifting shapes and shaping timesâ are edited over the music, genius production as always with BB! 7/10
FROZEN FLAME: One of my favourites from the album, this track really stood out to my from my first listen until now, three listens in! Beginning with soft glassy synths, before a hella catchy snare drum gently kicks in i am blown away. Some sort of chopped-sample of what seems to be beautiful chanting is layered into the instrumental. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! 10/10
GUNSHOTS: The song starts with a gentle synth lead with a clapping support, reminiscent of songs âPurity Ringâ themselves would put out into the world. Right away, the lyrics â Hold your medal up, hold your baby for the camera- you won the warâ blare, in what seems to be a more PG way of portraying what is happening in many countries around the world- war, and deaths of young children who are caught up in the crossfire. As the chorus draws in, the track takes a bass-ier turn, as the beat drops along to the ever-so-catchy â But for two long years; you hear gunshotsâ. Once again, at the bridge the song becomes more relaxed and chilled along with a sweet guitar accompaniment. 8/10.
MEGAFLORA: Beginning with voice manipulations layered over various synth, water and computer generated sounds the song does not disappoint. Continuing on, a harpsichord-like instrument begins to come in along with glassier and other-worldly synths, the outro consists of a few short bursts of these before the song abruptly ends. Not my favourite from the album, but not a bad track at all. 6/10
ECCO CHAMBER: For some reason this track is so nostalgic to me, reminding me of the soundtracks to an underwater level in some sort of old video game. Borrowing similar synth and sound samples from previous tracks, it definitely works to sum-up the album so far in some sort of way Another short and sweet track, but a great interlude if ever iâve heard one! 7.2/10
HOLOGRAFFITI: Beginning with a faster paced synth rhythm, the song soon samples somebody saying âShut the fuck up and listenâ which you will want to do when the presumably Egyptian/Middle Eastern inspired beat drops with more voice manipulations- this time higher pitched than the preceding ones across the album. Not exactly a song that gets me overly excited really, but again, not bad whatsoever 4.5/10
XENOS: The song opens with a loud and clear warning, which i believe to be sampled from some sort of computer? The song continues with clashing synth and water sounds before being interrupted by the lead in what is now a âbouncyâ sound. The only lyrics are âsay a prayerâ which is repeated a couple of times throughout. Short. Simple. Awesome. 6/10
SANDCLOCK: This time sampling pan pipes amongst various computer generated and earth element sounds, âSandclockâ definitely lives up to its name. A very jungle-inspired song so it seems, breaking out into a few bursts of a refined lea at parts before returning t the catastrophic blank banshee madness we all know and love. 7/10
HUNGRY GHOST: This track has a creepier and ghostlier production, emphasising the name of the song. Again, reminiscent of video games, but this time Luigiâs Mansion. The post-chorus part is absolutely spectacular through to the end, with a dark and noir feel to it. The stand out lyric for me has to be - âThis green light burns all night, i wonât worry, your hungry ghostâ. 8.2/10
WEB RING: Continuing on from the eerie and haunting, yet beautiful vibes of âHungry Ghostâ- âWeb Ringâ offers up hella sister song realness. Getting somewhat even creepier, the track explores further into the true depth of the second part of the album. Amongst yet another sampled chant weaved into the instrumental are beautiful Shamisen like sounds; which add an increased sense of hyper reality and put me in a dream-like state. Definitely a hidden gem, i would say! 9/10
METEOR BLADE: Again, this track takes elements of previous tracks on the album and makes them its own. Firstly the Eastern inspired instrumentals, then the slightly more whiney and euphoric chants which fit unexpectedly perfect into the dark production. With computer notification sounds once again appearing here and there, along with other random gong and synth structures. Another brilliant track! 9.3/10
JUNO: A more relaxed and calming Eastern inspired song compared to the other darker and more harsh ones previously featured in the second half of the release. The chanting samples are almost, but not completely gone- appearing here and therein harmony with long winded âaaaaahâ harmonies lovingly placed over the instrumental, again,seemingly setting a complete new style once more for the remaining tracks of the album. 8.6/10
CERULEAN: Like how âHungry Ghostâ and âWeb Ringâ seem to have been bore of the same production mother- Cerulean lends a hand of fame from being the lovechild of âFrozen Flameâ and âWeb Ringâ. Seemingly taking all the most beautiful and mesmerising parts of the songs and compiling them into one masterpiece, i am left completely blown awayâŠwas completely NOT expecting that as the penultimate rack, but hey once again Blank Banshee throws a curve-ball, eh?! 10/10
EXOS: The outro track to âMEGAâ -in which i can only describe as one harmonious remix of every track on the release, From heavy snares now and again, to dark stretched synths layered perfectly at specific times over the gentle, warming lead synths. Over the track play all the Eastern instrumentationâs once more, making the whole song more of a reprise of MEGA in its entirety; not just a homage to it. 7.5/10
OVERALL ALBUM RATING: 8.9/10
THE ALBUM IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY VIA BLANK BANSHEEâS BANDCAMP AT THE MOMENT.Â
