Mortaja – Combined Minds (CD Album – Audiophob)
Genre/Influences: Industrial-techno, minimal-EBM.
Background/Info: German artist Bert Lehmann is the creative spirit behind Mortaja while he’s also involved with Torn From Beyond. Mortaja strikes back with its third opus, which saw the light of day four years after “Bone Chamber”.
Content: “Combined Minds” is a solid and ultra-danceable fusion between minimal-EBM (especially for the bass lines) and industrial-techno music. It sounds a bit as the sonic hybrid between Terence Fixmer, Nitzer Ebb and Monolith. The tracks are instrumentals although you’ll hear male growls running through a very few tracks.
Both last cuts are remixes by Greyhound and Suki.
+ + + : This new opus by Mortaya is a pure masterpiece! The EBM minimalism emerging from the terrific bass lines is the work of a genius. Lehmann’s bass lines can be linked to some masters in the genre like Nitzer Ebb, Terence Fixmer, Juno Reactor, Thomas P. Heckmann. And when you think you’ve heard the best bass line and the best song you’ll have to admit that the next cut blows everything away. This work moves to a crescendo reaching unique highlights. But the global sound treatments reflect intelligence and knowledge. It features great vintage sounds and icy sweeps.
– – – : Both remixes are the only cuts, which can’t totally convince me.
Conclusion: “Combined Minds” is one of the major albums from 2018! It’s a genius composition, which clearly creates a sonic bridge between EBM, techno- and industrial music. Absolutely recommended!
Best songs: “Strong Conviction”, “Underground Movements”, “Paint My Face – Body Paint Mix”, “Non-Compliance”, “Combined Minds”, “Haunted”, “Banquet House”.
Rate: (9).
Artist: www.facebook.com/Mortaja.de
Label: www.audiophob.de / www.facebook.com/audiophob
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