pMad – NineFortyFive

If you’ve paid attention to what’s happening on the contemporary music scene, you’ve probably noticed how many artists and bands incorporate post-punk elements and aesthetics but rarely fully embrace the genre. If you open any streaming platform, you’ll stumble upon many dream pop and shoegaze acts infusing jangly, angular guitars and lush synths into their music, but it seems like the true post-punk sound has become a rarity. It’s probably due to the fact that many tastemakers, social media influencers, and streaming platforms dictate the sonic direction nowadays, and the artist and bands are forced to overly experiment with their music. Thankfully, there are artists like pMad whose sound relies upon everything post-punk has to offer. With “NineFortyFive,” his latest standalone single released today via streaming platforms, he showcases how post-punk, when done right, has still so much to offer without ever feeling repetitive, predictable, or bland. And while his song dominantly carries all those fundamental elements of this longstanding music genre, there are also some other sonic ingredients lurking around. Some listeners might find similarities with something goth rock or alternative rock artists would eventually incorporate into their music, but pMad uses these additional elements as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details to elevate this epic sonic journey to new heights while simultaneously remaining loyal to the primary sonic direction. The way this composition seamlessly balances between that sweet, nostalgic sound and qualities that meet all the trends in contemporary music production goes beyond comprehension so many times throughout the entire song. With every upcoming segment, pMad demonstrates how much time and effort he invested while writing, composing, arranging, and producing this post-punk gem. Therefore, these exprimentations with a couple of music genres, various approaches, techniques, and directions shaped a marvelous composition that will not only appeal to the longtime post-punk fans but also those newbies who are stumbling upon this genre for the first time.

The marvelous vocal performance is the heart of this composition. It serves as a centerpiece, commands attention, and guides listeners on an epic journey through the expansive sonic universe. You’ll immediately notice how these deep vocal harmonies effortlessly balance low, mid, and high notes with such precision and finesse, emphasizing everything pMad intended to achieve with this composition. Besides decorating all those segments and instrumentations, his voice also contributes more than necessary emotional depth, adds that strong goth rock vibe, and infuses more complexity into an already intricate song structure. The implementation of effects such as delay and reverb gives a more dreamy quality, yet it doesn’t spoil the initial vocal performance. In the meantime, the interplay between guitars and synths shapes a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon. You’ll hear how all those catchy, memorable, engaging riffs and chord progressions, harmonies, melodies, and themes resonate on one side while the beautiful synth pads and accentuations shine on the other side. It’s nearly mindblowing how all those layers articulate together without overwhelming each other, proving that pMad thought about everything while assembling this song. The song expands sonically with every upcoming segment, making this listening experience worth revisiting over and over again. Of course, this epic sonic journey wouldn’t sound complete without the equally impressive rhythm section that holds everything together. You’ll notice how the intricate, vividly hearable, warm-sounding basslines rumble beneath all those guitars and synths, contributing more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth while acting as a binding element between the mentioned instruments and rhythmic patterns. Those warm, deep, dense, heavy low ends stick to the guitar like glue, yet they provide all the groove and detail this song needs without ever overwhelming the remainder of the song. The excellent drumming performance, based upon tastefully assembled, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated, moderate beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, keep the remainder of the instruments in line while dictating groove and pace. Every hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, accentuation over the hi-hat, and splash over the cymbal generates more power and dynamic, making this song so detailed, complex, and groovy. Each instrument has its place and purpose, creating a lush ambiance.

With “NineFortyFive,” pMad has created a perfect post-punk song that sounds so innovative yet pays homage to the roots. It carries everything every true post-punk fan craves from a song, plus some additional elements that definitely make it more memorable and catchy. pMad’s outstanding vocal and sonic performance is on full display here, constructing one of the finest musical experiences you’ll hear this year. The artist poured heart and soul, years of experience, knowledge, skills, and talent into it, so you should immediately place it on your music radar. Do not miss it!