You may not have heard of Melt Motif, however, if there is any justice in the world then by the end of the year this little know band from Bergen in Norway should be on everyone’s radar. Particles. Death Objective takes the foundations that were laid with their previous album A White Horse Will Take You Home and builds upon them to create a gem of an album. Particles. Death Objective is a collection of songs that are multilayered, have depth musically and lyrically, dripping in emotion and long after the album has finished a deep impression has been made upon the psyche.
Particles. Death Objective is the music to a dystopian world, where neon lights and towering holographic billboards light up the towering skyscrapers that are filled with the upper echelon of society, while down in the streets there is grime, grit and desperation for the majority of the population. Melt Motif have an uncanny ability to construct songs that are both soaring and melodic, yet simultaneously have a rawness and edginess. This simultaneous polarisation is further enhanced by the vocals and the lyrics, with the vocals being dreamy and enchanting, yet the subject matter of the lyrics is melancholic and brooding.
Within Particles. Death Objective is a celebration of all that is great about electronic music. You have the influences of trip-hop legends like Portishead, where there is a persistent sense of menace hidden within the very fabric of every sultry moment. The song that best demonstrates this is the outstanding ‘I’m Gone’. On songs such as ‘Full Moon’ and ‘Where I Want To Die’, there is emotional dance elements which recall the likes of Lamb, however, Melt Motif add a subtle darker element to the styling.
Where though I think Melt Motif truly sign on Particles. Death Objective is when the darkwave grips the soul of the music and the sense of the macabre dominates. Therefore the album peaks with a trio of songs that come back to back ‘Chainsaw’, ‘Leave it All Behind’ and ‘Abyss’. It is as if from the beginning of Particles. Death Objective you are on a downward spiral and once you reach the bottom of the very depth of the void, the album’s true greatness comes forth.
Melt Motif have created an outstanding electronic album in Death. Particles Objective. Any self-respecting lover of music should give this album a listen and allow themselves to become engulfed within its ethereal reverb, twisted glitch beats and haunting vocal passages. If they continue on this trajectory of producing music of this quality I can easily envision Melt Motif creating an album to sit alongside the likes of Dummy, Mezzanine or The Fragile.
Melt Motif Particles. Death Objective is out on 28th April 2023 via Apollon Records.
