New Mitch Murder Album!

Mitch Murder is the morbid stagename for Swede Johan Bengtsson's moody synth project, taking inspiration from Deloreans and practically everything '80s.

In 2010, Mitch Murder released his first full-length album, Burning Chrome, a collection of bright synth instrumentals, with a slight funk edge a la Paul Hardcastle. The highlight for me is the beautiful "Beach Interlude". I think Mitch's definite strength is Jan Hammer-like slow jams that are hypnotic and lulling.

Just this month, Mitch Murder has released a follow-up which is even better - much more concise and focused.  Mitch has moved beyond the Delorean and Back to the Future obsessions and into "new" territory. Current Events is centered around major trends and events of the 1980s, complete with evening news soundbite samples mixed in - including the rich, avuncular voice of none other than Mr. Ronald Reagan himself, albeit eerily announcing his failed "Star Wars" missile program, officially known as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). But it's Mitch's selection of soundbites that are truly excellent and actually deeply enhance the music and his message.

Sampling started in the 1980s (when else) and is all but cliche now. Mitch manages to make it interesting again because he's selected some genuinely interesting sound bites, such as the opener, "Looking Back", when a reporter, I assume in 1989, cleverly notes at the end of the decade how the second half of the 20th century was so neatly packaged into clear eras every ten years, culminating in the very distinctive 1980s, which did end rather neatly on January 1, 1990 (though one could argue it had an extended stay until 1992 when George H.W. Bush was kicked out).

The best example of Mitch's chilling use of soundbites is on the magical "Palmer's Arcade". The song is a lush, dreamy, emotional slow groove that builds to a fascinating mid-section sample, where he interjects a reporter (Dan Rather? Tom Brokaw?) interviewing a presumably young teenage man about video game arcades. "Did it change your life Greg?" the reporter asks. "Oh yeah. Now my life centers around the game. Right now that's my thing," answers the young guy, enhanced by an echo Mitch has added on for extra effect. I've never heard that interview and it's truly fresh, honest and insightful. I was caught off guard by how innocent it sounded. People having fun, playing, living, just enjoying their time on planet earth. Mitch Murder has done it - he's captured the 1980s in an album, and it's not forced over overblown but subtle and reflective. It was a special time.

It will be hard to top Current Events, complete with it's SDI-inspired artwork (Mitch and I must be on the same wavelength as I just watched a vintage youtube vid on SDI this past week, where I'm positive the image he used came from). But it's been fun to watch a neo-electro artist outdo themselves. I look forward to whatever Mitch Murder has planned next.


Buy the album here and check out his soundcloud page here, including a promo mix in support of Current Events.