Published by Davide Pappalardo on November 20, 2017
Moaan Exis is a French one-man project dedicated to modern rhythmic / industrial techno with dubstep, dark ambient and experimental elements. A syncopated tour de force is his usual modus operandi, sometimes recalling the more energetic episodes of Gesaffelstein, but with his own identity. A “crossover” sound enriched by obsessive rhythms and dark atmospheres, as shown with the self-published EP Invok and the digital-only self-titled work published by Industrial Strength Records. Now Audiotrauma, the French label rising in the electro / industrial scene, has published his first full length called Transcendence, an album made of eight rhythmic tracks where his skills are displayed in a joyride for the listeners.
From earth starts our journey with enthralling industrial drum machines and syncopated loops, an apt welcome for us enriched by eerie effects and a strong electronic march. Breathe is an evocative number in which ambient elements are soon destroyed by a crazy ride characterized by robotic rhythms and shrilling sounds, while Mirror fuses crawling, slow and cinematic movements with discordant, unsettling soundscapes.
Connection features label-mate VERIN (Chris Shortt) adding whispered vocals and his drum’n’bass influenced electro-industrial sound to the equation, giving us a serpentine track built on slow crescendos. Bardo closes the work with mysterious, suspense-filled lines, baritones and evocative synths, while an almost tribal drum makes-up for the rhythmic sequence.
Once again Audiotrauma forecasts a new, promising project where the elements of the past and the present are remodeled in a new, genre-defying sound without limits. Following no fashion and rules, we get something which looks forward while resulting interesting and listenable. Gladly recommended to the curious and open minded listener.
Label: Audiotrauma
Rating: 8