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Negative Format
Gradients

Metropolis Records

Posted: Friday, May 16, 2008
By: Trubie Turner

Continuing a trend of excellence, Gradients marks yet another superb addition to Negative Format's discography. A continued evolution of their sound, Gradients showcases the unrelenting growth and ever increasing maturity of Negative Format, while still maintaining the incredibly distinctive sound that they are known for. A mixture of instrumental and vocal accompanied tracks, the album is unapologetically electronic yet epitomizes just how organic a sound can be created from inorganic materials. Brimming with science fiction-esque soundscapes, and managing to be both calming and invigorating at the same time, Gradients takes the listener on a journey unlike any other.

On several tracks, Negative Format once again treats the listener to the lush and sultry vocal additions of Rashree Matson. Used sparsely, but very effectively on "Hues of Grey," Matson's input comes after a long, energetic, and wonderfully infectious instrumental piece that is almost impossible for the body to resist. Returning for a much larger contribution, "Pathogen" is one of two tracks to use both Matson's voice as well as Alex Matheu's own, and their two styles play off of each other marvelously. The combination of Matson's vocals and Matheu's composition on "Foundations" makes for an amazingly serene and beautiful track that easily rivals the very best vocal accompanied work of Delerium. The mentions of Matson's vocals, however, are in no way meant to understate the trademark distorted vocal performance from Matheu, which is once again used to great effect adding an ominous pseudo-humanoid feel to the tracks in which he contributes. The only mildly bumpy performance comes with the track "Color Depth," where his vocals just don't quite mesh with the music as well as they do in other tracks, such as "Reaction" or the other duet with Matson, "Photon Ring."

With this album, Negative Format has once again outdone themselves with the startlingly deep and vibrant composition, and the fantastic vocal work within. Negative Format continues to be a shining beacon of originality, growth, and innovation and Gradients is easily one of the best electronic treats of the year thus far. It is an experience that simply should not be missed.