The keen reader will certainly remember Slovakian creative and visionary MARS_999. Writing about ‘Milovat Teba’ back in June, we proudly celebrated the piece as “not a record for everyone; packed with avant-garde electronica and a dramatic and intense harmonic character”. We stand by our words: MARS_999’s artistic output is elite and researched, a fragment of aural catharsis in an often predictable, boring universe.
‘Prízraky v Tmách’ is the project’s latest effort, a synth-pop, gothic-flavoured exploration built on seemingly relatable new wave/industrial tones and intelligible melodies. Produced with a plethora of synth textures and an uplifting, 80s-sounding drum machine, the track also benefits from live bass recorded by Jakub Vejnar, a feature that gives the overall record a ton of character. Once angina, MARS_999 has teamed up with Australian producer Rohin Brown, with the pair meeting at Faust Studio in Prague.
If there’s something we have come to understand about Juraj Péč, the human behind the moniker, it is that he boasts a clear, visual-driven ethos. That’s why music videos are always included in each release. This time around, MARS_999 rallies Slovak visual artist Marián Vredík around him, giving birth to a gloomy, enigmatic and quirky visual offering.
Recommended! Discover ‘Prízraky v Tmách’ on Spotify and YouTube:
