Bitcrush has always had a knack of making something as intangible as emotion seem somehow within reach, and on Collapse Mike Cadoo has taken this project to a new level and managed to create the most human and powerful record of his career to date. While this is beyond doubt a Bitcrush record and still invokes a feeling of a desperate nostalgic hope like a crack of sunlight through parting clouds, this time the clouds are much blacker and tempestuous, the viewing platform less stable. Bitcrush has changed, adding almost JK Broaderick-esque detuned guitars and fragile yet distressed guitar parts, he weaves these new elements into his work effortlessly and somehow manages to make Collapse feel like a living breathing entity.
As Bitcrush has always been the sleeve on which Cadoo wears his heart, the fact that he puts this stylistic shift down to, as he puts it, "emotionally exhausting events in my life", is hardly a surprise and can be felt in every note. More expressive and emotional than ever - pain, hope, slivers of broken joy - Collapse is not a safe record, but somehow manages to take the emotions that created it and make them yours in a journey you're unlikely to forget.
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Collapse tracklisting
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The Weight (Of a Future Mutation) |
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To Collapse Into |
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To Collapse Out Of |
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All At Once It Was Erased |
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...For A Void |
9 comments so far (post your own)
Jacob Hollenbeck posted this comment on Monday, 08.13.12 @ 08:14am
It has been interesting listening to your sound evolve over the years. This release does not disappoint-continuing in the vein of carefully woven soundscapes. I look forward to what comes next.
Amir Baloch posted this comment on Monday, 08.13.12 @ 08:38am
Fucking Lush! Can't wait!
Jim Payne posted this comment on Friday, 08.17.12 @ 21:07pm
M.A.S.T.E.R.P.I.E.C.E. I don't even know what else to say here, as I listen to the samples above. This takes Bitcrush to a whole new level, somewhere well beyond the strastosphere and where most other mere mortals are able to musically tread. I'd be hooked on this album merely for the first track, but then each track subsequent track is its own world of wonder. "To Collapse Out Of" rips my heart asunder at a mere first listen of a mere few minutes of a sample, but is overwhelmingly beautiful in its heartfelt melody. I'm loving the echoing vocals of "All At Once It Was Erased," and "For A Void" is just HEAVY while still full of melody. What a breathtaking combination of subdued melody transitioning to heaviness, and all points all between; and sometimes simultaneously co-existing. Yep -- masterpiece. Cannot wait to get my hands on this and listen to it in its entirety!
Jermaine Q. posted this comment on Saturday, 08.25.12 @ 08:42am
UNF****INbelievable... He hits the mark every time. Can't wit til 09/25. He creates something new without straying too much from his early work..
"To collapse into" F*****g powerful..
Gad K. posted this comment on Tuesday, 09.25.12 @ 07:07am
Heard "...For A Void" on youtube - Wow ! it's soo good. . . explosive stuff. . .
Of course also heard "The Weight (Of a Future Mutation)" - I think an emotional outburst would be a suitable description for this album.
Will buy it soon hopefully.
Cheers !
Pedro Filipe posted this comment on Tuesday, 09.25.12 @ 17:29pm
Bitcrush is now a post-rock /metal band...
I don't have anything specifically against this but... damn I miss Gridlock.
Stats posted this comment on Tuesday, 10.2.12 @ 13:40pm
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of Bits suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly Crushed.
Paul Nielsen posted this comment on Tuesday, 11.6.12 @ 13:43pm
Absolutely gorgeous. Best album I've heard all year.
luca posted this comment on Sunday, 03.3.13 @ 07:06am
evocative.....good work
Jacob Hollenbeck posted this comment on Monday, 08.13.12 @ 08:14am
It has been interesting listening to your sound evolve over the years. This release does not disappoint-continuing in the vein of carefully woven soundscapes. I look forward to what comes next.