Following in the wake of 2020's dynamic WOODEN SWORD and 2021's gentle POST-GLACIAL, Mute City returns with his third full-length, TOTAL RESIGNATION.
Tracks range from slow polymetric minimal techno ("How to Disassociate Completely") to icy reverbed dronescape ("You Can't Reconcile Two Different Worlds") to glitchy lo-fi IDM workout ("Deep Forest [Basic Mix]") to ominous modular terminator music ("Grim Psychometry").
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OUT NOW ON WWAB/Claw Solutions: MUTE CITY - TOTAL RESIGNATION (cassette & digital)
"Incredibly excited to announce this beautiful and serene sonic quilt woven from skittering rhythms, glacial melodies and intricate arrangements. “Total Resignation,” Mute City’s third full length, floats down a path somewhat more melancholy than previous efforts with some incredibly beautiful ambient passages that link together the more up-tempo songs. It is certainly a cerebral and introspective collection. That said, there is also an ever-present feeling of hope stitching it all together, running throughout. There are moments of tranquility and moments of decay, both equally rewarding. Perhaps a reference to what it feels like living in our current times. Tracks on this record bring to mind the work of Loscil, Boards of Canada, early Autechre and their re-manglings of tracks for the Gescom collective. There are also elements of Clark’s labyrinthine architecture, Jóhann Jóhannsson’s ghostly cinematics and some of the playfulness of Mouse On Mars. All with Mute City’s unique spin.”
DPWB, Wrong Way Archival Bureau
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Previous press for Mute City:
"[Music for] a long, Lynchian desert drive... Each song flows effortlessly into the next..." - I Heart Noise
"11 tracks masterly chaptered together... [Mute City] is an eclectic artist, unfolding hidden layers at every listening session... an album rich in tension, balanced in its narrative, deep in its texture…Overall, a refined gem." - Boston Compass
credits
released August 5, 2022
All tracks by Mute City. Co-released by Wrong Way Archival Bureau [W(ʍ)053] and Claw Solutions [SOLUTION-031]. Produced at home by Mike Gintz in Somerville, Massachusetts. Mastered by Scott Craggs at Old Colony Mastering. Artwork by Mike Gintz and Nick Burgess. Layout by Nick Burgess. Cassette printing and duplication by Cryptic Carousel.
Love and thanks: Lauren, Steve, Nick, Jordyn, Joel, BJ, Farhad, Evan, Pete, Chris, Craggs, and all my friends and family. Thanks also to the SLC Synth Alliance and EZBOT Discord communities. Extra special thank you to Dan Boucher at Wrong Way. Hey Park!
The latest found-sound ominous synth-based score-for-a-nonexistant-film-about-our-decaying-world jaunt from fellow Wrong Way artist Stuffed Spider. Mute City
A charity compilation exhibiting wildly divergent takes on lo-fi electronic music, with all proceeds going to World Central Kitchen and National Bail Out. Mute City