The Oscillation’s Monographic, released in 2016, is a hypnotic sonic voyage through experimental rock, krautrock, post-punk, and psychedelic rock world that defies easy classification. Helmed by multi-instrumentalist Demian Castellanos, the album is a feverish blend of jangling, reverb-drenched guitars, heavy distortion, and richly textured synths, creating an expansive soundscape. It’s an intense experience that pulls you into a vortex of sound where genre boundaries blur, opening up a sonic universe that will immediately grab your attention. Monographic begins with a sense of immersion, establishing a thick, layered texture that feels cinematic in scope, yet personal in delivery. Castellanos’ vocal performance is entrancingm often delivered with a slight detachment that gives the music an otherworldly, almost ritualistic quality. His voice merges with the instruments, acting more as an additional instrument than a traditional lead vocal. There are shades of Peter Murphy, Nick Cave, and Ian Curtis in the vocals’ dark allure, but Castellanos brings his unique style, lending a ghostly quality that makes the entire album feel like an exploration of consciousness, memory, and space.
The guitar work on Monographic is a sheer force, drenched in distortion and reverb, pulling from krautrock’s relentless motorik pulse and the post-punk atmospherics. Jangly, reverberating riffs twist and shift, creating layers that often feel like waves crashing over one another. Castellanos’ guitar arrangements bring to mind the gritty textures of The Jesus and Mary Chain fused with the hypnotic rhythms of Neu!, resulting in a unique sound that constantly teeters between chaos and control. The intricate chord progressions and riffs give the album a sense of urgency and intensity, creating a brooding and electrifying mood. Synths and keys add another dimension, bathing each track in a cosmic, expansive, and atmospheric glow. Castellanos uses synths not just for melody but to create an ambient texture that transforms the album’s soundscape into something almost tangible. These electronic elements give the album a psychedelic depth, with sequences that build into sweeping crescendos, only to dissolve into eerie, ambient passages. The result is a sonic experience that feels cinematic, as if each track is a scene in a larger, interstellar film, drawing comparisons to the expansive, genre-defying work of many renowned bands and artists.
Beneath the shimmering guitars and haunting synths, the basslines are both driving and intricate, offering a steady anchor to the album’s swirling soundscape. The basslines aren’t merely background support, they’re as integral to the album as the guitar and synth work, carving their melodic paths that add depth and power. There’s a heaviness to the bass that gives the music a sense of gravity, grounding the more ethereal sounds with a resonant warmth. It’s a style reminiscent of classic krautrock and experimental rock, with a rhythmic consistency that hypnotizes, holding the album together with an unwavering pulse. The drumming is one of the standout aspects, with Valentina Magaletti delivering an outstanding performance that propels Monographic to new heights. Her rhythms are precise and powerful, often locking into a groove that drives the music forward with an almost mechanical consistency. Yet, her style remains flexible, adding dynamics and flourishes that adapt to the album’s constant shifts in mood. The drumming is the heartbeat of the album, pushing and pulling with a rhythm that is at times restrained, at others explosive, creating a sense of movement that mirrors the ebb and flow of consciousness. Additional drum work by Tim Garrat on certain tracks adds another layer of percussive complexity, resulting in beats that feel organic but relentless, guiding listeners through the album’s labyrinthine soundscape.
Throughout Monographic, there’s a feeling of boundlessness, a sense that Castellanos has crafted a world that exists outside of typical musical confines. His compositions are bold, dense, and expansive, yet they retain an immediacy that draws the listener in. There’s a cinematic quality to the album as a whole, with each piece unfolding like scenes in an abstract narrative. The songs maintain a calm intensity that ebbs and flows, building tension and releasing it in waves, making the album feel like a meditative journey into the unknown. Monographic celebrates experimental rock and boldly pushes it into new territory. Castellanos’ ability to thread together elements of krautrock, post-punk, and psychedelic rock gives the album a unique character, yet it never feels scattered or overreaching. Every element serves a purpose, contributing to the album’s overarching vision of sound as both experience and exploration. It’s an album that invites you to lose yourself within its layers, to become part of the textures and rhythms that pulse like a living organism. Head to The Oscillation’s Bandcamp page for more information about ordering this gem.
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