ambient / post rock / jazz / psychedelic
Arka Sengupta is one of those composers who simply can't seem to find any rest. In August, he released 'Vacant Earth', a concept album about being the last person on earth. Now, only a few months later, he returns with another story, another concept album. This time the theme is a love story which "explores the bond between two travelers who have the ability to breach through space-time and travel throughout the multiverse." Built around a number of poetry verses (with an electronic voice, reminiscent of that of late Steven Hawking), this album shows a more experimental side of Mixtaped Monk, one that allows a wide array of musical styles to infiltrate and influence.
While most of the album revolves around ambient soundscapes, Mixtaped Monk often explores the regions of post rock. Now, he adds flashes of jazz, cosmic, classical and psychedelic music. Some of these tracks also show a love for the music of synth gurus like Klaus Schulze which I definitely appreciate. 'In Between Universes' immediately comes up with that vivacious synth, which reaches a musical highlight in the gloomy ambient tune 'Temporal Anomalies'.
Now, Mixtaped Monk has been featured on this website plenty of times in the past. Each time the result was a positive review (something we're good at here). This one is no different, although I'm not necessarily a fan of the verses in between the music (although 'Firth Verse' is simply brilliant). Nonetheless, most of the tracks here tell me that Arka is getting better and better, both as a musician and as a storyteller.
As far as I'm concerned, tracks like 'The Desire To Return' may last a lot longer, just like the breathtaking speedy piano tune 'So Close Yet So Far'. But Arka can do whatever he wants, as long as he keeps delivering these atmospheric sounds on a regular basis. For real, I know he was good but he keeps on improving and he keeps on delivering pleasant surprises. See you in a few months, undoubtedly with another enigmatic concept album.
Serge
While most of the album revolves around ambient soundscapes, Mixtaped Monk often explores the regions of post rock. Now, he adds flashes of jazz, cosmic, classical and psychedelic music. Some of these tracks also show a love for the music of synth gurus like Klaus Schulze which I definitely appreciate. 'In Between Universes' immediately comes up with that vivacious synth, which reaches a musical highlight in the gloomy ambient tune 'Temporal Anomalies'.
Now, Mixtaped Monk has been featured on this website plenty of times in the past. Each time the result was a positive review (something we're good at here). This one is no different, although I'm not necessarily a fan of the verses in between the music (although 'Firth Verse' is simply brilliant). Nonetheless, most of the tracks here tell me that Arka is getting better and better, both as a musician and as a storyteller.
As far as I'm concerned, tracks like 'The Desire To Return' may last a lot longer, just like the breathtaking speedy piano tune 'So Close Yet So Far'. But Arka can do whatever he wants, as long as he keeps delivering these atmospheric sounds on a regular basis. For real, I know he was good but he keeps on improving and he keeps on delivering pleasant surprises. See you in a few months, undoubtedly with another enigmatic concept album.
Serge
