mister - Auquostiks

mister

Auquostiks
self-released; 2011

4.0 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

Ok, this album Auquostiks by mister will turn some heads, rest assured. But not in the way one would be repulsed or shocked, just confused maybe? The canvas of sound is full of color and depth and it's really more like art than simply ear candy. Having said that, this doesn't grab your average listener to say the least. I had to stop and collect my critique after the second track once I realized just what was taking place. 

The experiences range from plain experimental to conversational to repetitiously off-putting to be honest. All the emotions were engaging, however, and that makes it worth all the time. The last thing I want is to be able to immediately write something off. Whether you can grasp what Auquostiks is all about right away or not isn't the important thing. What's important is that you keep your mind open and embrace the eerie along with the surreal because mister doesn't skimp on either.

"Anonymous" and "TumsTums" are brilliantly musical while also sounding randomly percussive and schizophrenic. This music raises a lot of questions on just what it takes to be a song. They define it loosely and run with their musings like an animal fresh out of the cage. The final track "Nature's Endusty" is barely something of conventional music. It's sound art up until the contrasting tickling of piano around two minutes in. What sounded like thunder claps and rain patter gently cease from their pseudo presence and nothing is more at peace than the atmospheric wafts of sound that permeate along with the patterns of major interval.

Mister is about reading between the lines and looking for the spark in each moment. These songs will go over your head if not taken care of. Do I suggest you partake in extra-sensory applications before listening? Let's just say it's not a bad idea. I'm all for finding ways to get the most of your music. "Gonalongo" might be the one that transcended the most for me. It's jungle vibe and electronic firing was such a new sound to me that I couldn't help but be involved. The rhythms are subtle and systematic all at the same time. Strings flutter and staccato, machines whir and hum, and the next thing is they eyes roll back and we have lift off.

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