Secede
Bye Bye Gridlock Traffic

Release Date: 2003 | Tracklist

It’s one thing to be an electronic musician, after all the next guy can try and be the next Richard D. James with just a laptop and a phone, but to be a electronic artist it takes so much more; the precise understanding of sound, placement and all the intricacies that come part and parcel. That is what differentiates Lennard van der Last aka Secede from so many of his trend-hopping contemporaries, he understands music and it’s composition with minuet precision and there is no greater demonstration of this than on Bye Bye Gridlock Traffic.

Perhaps the best demonstration of this is shown in how van der Last manages to be able to siphon and focus so many influences into his work without a single one of them overtaking the other. The sound is colourful and warm but it never descends into Rorschach madness due to van der Last’s careful choice of instrument and use of layering. The incredible “Outran” serves as the best example, different instruments build upon each other in harmonious succession to form an organic structure that constantly rises and falls without a single misstep. It’s a powerful and articulate representation of the illicit fantasies of a child’s fractured mind that simultaneously grasps at the stars while reaching into a very personal Hell and stands as a testament to van der Last’s skill as a composer. It thankfully is a skill that is utilised throughout the entire album. Not one song or a part of a song feels out of place upon this album, everything flows together to a form a disturbing but deeply human story. It’s a de Sardian danse macabre, a poignant look into a child’s madness and stands as Secede’s true masterpiece.

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4 excellent

Rank: #13 for 2003