seven

I have been listening to this album on and off for a couple of months now, and it still keeps growing on me with every listen. the person behind solvent is jason amm, one of the founders of canadian suction records, known for its "synthesizer pop for purists" music style.

this third full length is released on german morr music, the label that delivered a stunning amount of stellar idm material in 2001. "solvent city" is everything that electro-pop genre is famous for - incredibly catchy and warm analog melodies, playful percussion, "tight robotic beats". one quickly realizes how perfect is the feel of this release - it is not overly sweet and playful, it is not cold and mechanized - a perfect balance of vintage electro pop and idm modernity. in a sense this spanning of musical periods makes this style timeless. solvent is not jumping on the bandwagon of current idm trends, instead he creates music that is always melodic, always having a recognizable feel and style.

every single track is melancholic and yet playful, perfectly rhythmic and yet glowing with lush melodies. simple composition and energetic straightforward percussion, being a required part of the genre, result in catchy and danceable pieces. suction records labelmates skanfrom and lowfish contribute mixes of "frozen food" and "a panel of experts."

although this is a morr music release, suction records would probably be a better source for quality electro pop releases. "solvent city" is one of the catchiest albums in this genre, and should not be overlooked by any means.