MORTHEM VLADE ART ABSENTE TEREBENTHINE ALBUM PANDAIMONIUM RELEASE: APRIL 4, 2004 REVIEW: JULY 7, 2004

Morthem Vlade Art is remarkably alone in its field of intelligent synthpop. The world of digital sound gadgetry left this kind of personal, song based electronica behind long ago, and the sound is now mostly associated with eighties retro.
MVA won’t be pinpointed that easily. Although the vocals are unmistakably of the artistic, seasoned Bowie/Sylvian variety, elements of glitch electronica, cut up beats and other novelties sets the band firmly apart from those long gone decades. Yet the sound amazingly doesn’t sound like it's had a musical face-lift (called the ”let’s add some breakbeats to our dated music to target the kids” operation). No sonic surgery has been done on this face, leaving all the characteristic beauty spots in space. On the band's fifth album "Absente Therebenthine", ”Blessingway” is the most prominent one, featuring wind-up toys and a tirelessly droning atonal melody and conveying a distinct sense of otherworldliness.
MVA also writes decent songs, although its strengths tend to come out better during instrumental stretches where the band really gets to flex its experimental muscles. Besides the lyrics are odd, misspelled poetry not really worthy of the company of such good music.

MATTIAS HUSS