Electronic artist Com Truise’s newest creation, In Decay, is a nostalgic, yet fresh visit to 13 early demos or unreleased recordings. Prepare for a solid hour of retro synth.
I watched Weird Science to set the mood before my review. It’s amazing how seamlessly movies, video games, music and decades can all be associated. For me, In Decay transported Anthony Michael Hall and Kelly LeBrock inside my home. For some, movies like Tron or games like Rad Racer come alive when listening to this music. For others, groups like New Order are channeled through the sounds of Com Truise. Whatever your nostalgia poison may be, In Decay strikes a consistent chord of familiarity throughout the album.
Wilting synth and uniform beats are on every track. In Decay also sports dynamic volume levels in constant flux. The combined effect keeps things interesting through 3-5 minute songs that layer repetitious sequences. Experimental effects and samples also give character to individual tracks. However, the album’s overall feel is chill despite a variety of sounds.
A female voice initiates a computer sequence during the first track “Open”. The second “84’ Dreamin” is accompanied by a popping sample that sounds like an uncorking bottle. Loud technological noises begin songs “Dreamblender” and “Video Arkarde” and more robotic voices are featured in “Stop” and “Yxes.” As far as the music itself, the album captures Com Truise’s signature sound.
“I compute mid-fi synth-wave, slower-motion funk” describes Com Truise on his experimental, bottom heavy style. Born and raised in uptown New York, Com Truise is one of many personas of producer and designer Seth Haley. The artist’s first release was the Cyanide Sisters EP in 2010. Shorty afterwards the Tron: Legacy Reconfigured album featured Com Truise with his remix of “Encom Part II”. In 2011 he released his first full-length album, Galactic Melt.
The greatest strength of artist Com Truise is also his greatest weakness: all of it sounds the same. In Decay is no exception. If you like any track from the album, chances are you will like the rest of album and his other work. If you don’t, chances are you will find out quickly.
