Artist: Multiple FX
Album: Evolve
Genre: Hard Rock, Electronica
Release: 2010
Hailing from Hawaii, Multiple FX's debut album, Evolve, contains 14 tracks that traverse several musical genres, combining to form an interesting hybrid of alt-rock and electronica.  The numerous layers of guitars, synth, and percussion, create a wild and majestic sonic experience that demands repeated listens to fully absorb and appreciate.

The imaginative song titles don't reveal an obvious structure, but when listened to carefully, musically there's a clear design underneath.  The first section of the album reels the listener in with speed and intensity, while subsequent tracks introduce darker riffs, and start to mix in more nuanced electronic and ambient noises. 

“Reaction Core” begins innocently with simple electronic beats, but the intensity gradually increases, giving way to groovy guitar riffs and speedy drum beats.  “D00M” continues the assault with fast and heavy guitar riffs; while “Entrance” mixes things up with wonderful, and infectious psychedelic beats, backed with electronic distortion.  “Endless Drive” is arguably the fastest song on the album, thrusting you forward onto a high-speed sonic highway filled with hyper-kinetic electronic beats.  Rounding out the album's first act, “Rush” is an intense hard-rock song.

“Universal” maintains a hard rock edge with a few stylish guitar riffs, but marks a shift toward ambiance with soothing synth melodies, and also adding depth and personality with longing background vocals.  “Psyborg Ninja” has a great tribal drum intro, leading into a darker, industrial sound – “M-u-l-t-i-z-o-m-u-s” continues this trend also – while “Transparency” balances heavy guitar riffs with a electronic melodies and psychedelic noises.  

The combination of “Celestial” and “Waves” slows things down a bit, offering beautiful, dream-like aural passages.  “Waves” in particular is a definite highlight, using acoustic riffs to create a sense of tranquility, while a beautiful, climactic piano section combined with oceanic sounding ambiance, creates a melodic and relaxing atmosphere.

“2 am” and “Mahalo Modular” reflect the band's Hawaiian roots, combining bongo drums and ukulele riffs with liberal portions of psychedelic synth beats and  keyboard melodies, assimilating to form an electronic tropical dreamscape.

The record closer, “Vision” returns the album back to electronic noise and synth, piling on layer upon layer of various speedy electronic beats that shift in and out of existence, creating a cacophony of chaotic beats.

After listening to Evolve, you'll feel as though you've traveled through the information highway at light-speed; passed by dazzling meteor showers while flying through outer-space; or experienced  a wild, fantastical dream.  

Individually, songs can sometimes feel brief and unsatisfying; but like an elaborate puzzle, when put together, it forms a larger tapestry that becomes something far more than you might have imagined.

There's much more that can  be said about Multiple FX's Evolve, but words rarely do justice to any form of music.  The dynamics and layers of guitars, synth, and electronic and ambient noises, culminate into something that should, and must be experienced to fully appreciate.  The talent and potential that's present here is enormous, and I personally look forward to listening their next album.
                            Read more...