Subliminy: A New Solo Album from Minneapolis’ Own White Dr. Dre
507projex
Subliminy is an album by Neil Zumwalde, who records heaps of albums for a shitload of local acts under the label NewTectonics.
In little more than a year, he’s birthed albums for Moonstone, Anders Ponders, Tender Meat, Buffalo Moon, Canon Chorus, Chelsea Boys, Slapping Purses and Velvet Davenport, among others. Musically, he describes himself as a generalist, but let’s be more precise—Neil samples tom-toms and manipulates their pitch in Reason, he howls through vocoders while blasting away on synthesizers, he is a dark mage of midi. His live performances are as legendary as the exploits of Cortez; he hypes his shit like Flava Flav and the crowd devours him alive. If the Roman Empire was still around, they’d crucify Neil’s ass.
His newly released solo sound stretches from the minimal to the eccentric. The delivery varies, sometimes as an ecstatic vocoder-fit coupled with raunchy backbeats, and at others as an introspective meditation done vis-à-vis down-tempo stylings, with a heaviness echoing Depeche Mode. The lead-in track, “Boiling Cats and Ruing My Beliefs,” flies out of the gates like a Pegasus with flaming wings, but quickly settles into a lovely electro-ballad. This sets the tone for trying to understand what I kept hearing: moments of pure excess bridled by a sense of intuitive control over the effects at work.
The majority of the tracks on Subliminy move seamlessly from one to the next; almost as if the ten songs are actually five married pairs. The lead-in track flows beautifully into its softer counterpart, and as "Electric Night" fades out, “No Matter What the Mystics Say” begins with a trance-like transition, evolving into a power-electronica dance track that climaxes with serious intensity; my favorite part of the album. The title track and its successor also complement each other, as do the next two, and the next. Having a larger scope when crafting an album can often mean weak singles, but nearly all of Subliminy’s songs stand stoutly on their own.
Zumwalde suggested “Baby Goo Goo” as a featured track. Affectionately dirty, percussion-heavy—it was immediately likeable. After listening to the entire album about fifteen times, I’d look to the aforementioned tracks, “Terrible Genius,” or “Cutting the Lime” as the most iconic songs on the press.
In terms of food, Subliminy unfolds like a tasting menu—a thoughtfully-ordered series of glimpses into a greater creative spectrum, but unlike carbonated truffle foam and watermelon caviar, I feel satisfied with its whole progression, with its heart, like I’ve gotten what I paid for. Zumwalde manages to execute his range of aesthetics with an astounding level of precision—there’s that word again—with Neil, being precise is synonymous, even subliminal. 9/10.
Editorial Note: Neil is so beyond rad he's given us permission to upload his track, No Matter What the Mystics Say, to our new bonafide 507projex Soundcloud page. If you'd like to have a track featured on 507projex Soundcloud/the site itself, inquire within. Pick up the free download here:
No Matter What the Mystics Say -- FREE DOWNLOAD
No Matter What the Mystics Say by Neil Zumwalde by 507projex
This review of Neil Zumwalde's Subliminy was penned by 507's all-star gonzo columnist, Hijo de la Tierra. If you think you have the balls to contribute to 507projex, contact us at 507projex @ gmail dot com.
Catch Neil Zumwalde live, backed by a full band at the Turf Club on July 2nd, and on July 6th at the Kitty Kat Klub as a solo electronic act. Bring a change of underwear.
Watch Neil's hit, Baby Goo Goo
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