Audio Goblin has created otherworldly wonders through his latest album, Molting. Channeling a myriad of mystical soundwaves through speakers, Audio Goblin takes the listener on a journey that begins as a pensive tug on the heartstrings, and meanders to a deliciously complex escapade. The Asheville-based producer fully showcases his heavy hitting talent in an eight track masterpiece that is weird and wonderful.
Molting is a quest for tantalizing tunes.
The opening track, featuring ElectroChemical, titled “Tangled,” steadily awakens the album with a gentle and contemplative opening. It dances into a nearly meditative vibe with steady beats that remind the listener of their own heart. This song is incredibly introspective and plays right to the soul. It is a peaceful lead up to the second song of the album. “Folded Cortex” is next up, opening with echoing chimes that put the listener into a siren-song trance, yearning for what comes next. The complex layers of sound in the track make it impossible to stop listening. The bass drops to a low hum nearly thirty seconds in, making for a unique switch up before the song steers headfirst into mythical notes and a crescendo of fantastical tunes. This song feels like being on a riverboat through one’s own stream of consciousness.
While wading through that very stream of consciousness, we arrive at track three, “Aquious.” The tempo picks up on this one, letting the listener know the current is about to quicken. This song feels bright, like light reflecting off moonlit water. Wave-like bass tones weave with serpentine high hat patterns to propel the listener forward.
Amidst this journey of the listener, a joyous symphony of meowing greets the opening of “Cat Song,” the fourth track and midway point of the adventure. Twinkling notes echo little meows with a fascinating drum beat. The song stutters with a bouncy build and ascends into a thick layer of bass-heavy electronic turbulence. Chunky high-energy soundwaves stretch to fill the listener’s ears with delightful chaos before dropping back down into plucky and playful meows.
Audio Goblin entrances listeners with genre-melting tracks from the new album.
Track five, “Fisticuffs,” draws a slow gritty opening with a steady rhythm. The tune quickly explodes into a heavy groove with unique sounds that create its own sonic world. Shallow clicking and wandering grainy synths make this track unabashedly attention-grabbing. Once the listener has their ears attuned to the strange and wonderful soundscape they have landed on, track six, “Blip Sector” begs the question, “Is this still Earth?” A few lonely beeps alert the listener to pay attention right before the tune blasts off. Any seasoned psychonaut will be delighted to explore this strange sector of the album, with an ever-changing song showcasing Audio Goblin’s mastery of sound design.
“Schmeeple” is the seventh song of the album. In the classic Audio Goblin style of mind-blowing, this song starts with hollow knocking and an ecstatic drum beat. A wonky head-nodding beat carries this tasty display of eccentric sounds and sub movement. Charging into the eighth and final song, “Rektangle” carries the energy from song seven and doesn’t relent. Deep and hefty bass mean business as the song marches forward. This rounds out the album with a perfectly heavy-hitting ending.
Molting is nothing short of excellence.
The digitally organic Audio Goblin has done a fantastic job of showcasing his talent and pushing the envelope of sound design. Playing shows alongside names like Kursa, Alejo, Schmoop, Crawdad Sniper, and others, Audio Goblin is trailblazing the scene and creating mind-melting bangers and art. Molting is mind-bogglingly complex, with layers upon layers of sound dripping with raw skill and devotion to the craft.
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