Review Summary: Mute Math come back with a fantastic prog-pop album.
Our generation today is heartbroken and pathetic when it comes to the arts, leisure, and culture. No longer do the adolescents of our nation grow up on witty entertainment, physical recreation, or something they can relate to personally as they used to. They don't create games or imagine; they don't feel a drive to create, but they instead are convinced that the popular path of commercial entertainment is a far more adept creative path than that of underground success or progressive ideas.
However, there is occasionally hope, and hope can have a manifold manifestations. Case in point, a musical outfit that melds pop sensibilities with intricacy, transethnic experimentation, and an excellent juxtaposition of genres (or, an even bigger rarity, they create a new sound altogether) almost flawlessly. And it is these groups who usually fly under the mainstream radar whilst electronic-based dance club anthems run amok on FM radio. Recently bands that fit under this category can range from Minus The Bear to the late Marnie Stern. And now, the progressive pop act Mute Math can receive a well-deserved place in this category.
Beginning with “The Nerve” one realizes the industrial influence that Mute Math has, as noisy bits jump around and find their way into the aural mix. With a catchy chorus of “Set It On Fire!” the band proves that they can grasp pop-sensibilities and a perceptible groove. “Backfire” shows the industrial influence again, and like the poppy elements that make up a large portion of Mute Math's sound, it is more evident and extreme. And furthering extremities with “Clipping,” Mute Math show they can perform an adept electronic track, whilst classical elements are placed perfectly in this track. And while it seems that every track is innovative (which is almost true), and therefore every track is constantly interesting, it is not always the case. In fact, a listener's interest is only piqued during the rare change of pace, or the numerous hooks. And it is these moments that make the album shine.
“Burden” is a fantastic closer that features a guitar riff reminiscent of psychedelic rock music which segues into a recurring refrain. The track then allows a smooth vocal performance to take flight before transforming into a jazzy post-rock interlude. It's really interesting to be quite frank, and if more changes of pace were added like they are here, the album would be more worthwhile. “Armistice” is another major highlight, and features the Rebirth Brass Band. The track flawlessly melds every element that Mute Math has shown on the aforementioned tracks (from samba, pop, industrial, noise, and other genres), and then adds, for the first time, a very evident jazzy element to the mix. Horns and other brass instruments fire away and bring pizazz and unpredictability to the track, and again make it worthwhile. And though just about every track on this album is executed excellently, there are some definite and evident flaws.
Throughout the album, the album constantly changes from a morose, atmospheric sound, to one that is jumpy and pop-based, and rarely loses any of its creative appeal. And it is when either one of these polars ventures too far off into blandness that problems arise. For example, “Electrify” is eerily similar to several other synthpop tracks, and it frankly isn't good enough to be so generic in comparison to the rest of the album. Another example is “Lost Year” which is one of the sappiest piano ballads ever written, featuring a typical breathy voice, vapid lyrics about what seems to be a failing romance, and predictable violins. While it has amazing mainstream appeal, so did “Bad Day” and we all know how that went. The removal of these tracks would also shorten the album's length, which I would appreciate, because the album does last a little too long for my liking, even though the musicians are talented to say the least, and the vocalist shows that he can take command.
Mute Math's Armistice is a creature, and overall, it is the recurring hooks and the progressive nature of this album that keep it thriving while the vocals and instruments feed this creature and keep it happy for an overwhelming majority of the album's duration. The majority of this album is superb, and only a few flaws act as a hindrance to its enjoyability, and with practice and more musical progression, I'm sure that Mute Math could create a phenomenal effort that would make even this heartbroken generation realize what greatness is.
FINAL RATING: 4.1/5-Mute Math come back with a fantastic prog-pop album.
