MiXE1 – Don’t Break Apart

By RingMaster Review on February 22, 2017 • ( 0 )

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It has been a fair while since the release of their debut album Starlit Skin, two and a half years to be more accurate, but MiXE1 has leapt back into view with an ear grabbing roar of a new single which just demands attention. Showing an even greater meatier edge to the band’s emotionally fuelled melodic and electronic beauty, a fusion of textures which has been already explored to great success by them previously, the release is an imposingly stirring and provocative proposal with a B-side just as equipped and likely to draw a new wealth of ears and fans the way of the band.

Formed by Mike Evans (vocals/synths) in 2010 as a solo project, MiXE1 began heading towards being a full band with the addition of Lee Towson (guitar/bass/synth/vocals) two years later, today’s line-up completed with the subsequent addition of Lee O’Brien (drums/synth/samples). Singles and EPs along the way have all lured new spotlights and greater attention to match the growth in the band’s sound and Evan’s evocative songwriting. Starlit Skin was an acclaimed result of that on-going evolution with its lead single Talking In Our Sleep alone exciting new appetites. It has been a publicly quiet time since the excitement of their release died down but as Don’t Break Apart swiftly reveals it has not been a creatively infertile time or seen a lull in their sound’s development.

Don’t Break Apart instantly pulsates upon the senses, its golden harmonic touch laying on jabbing rhythmic pulses. Evans’ swiftly engaging tones step forward soon after, his ever expressive tones courted by synth bred caresses whilst that initial rhythmic coaxing persists. It is a gentle yet commanding lure with an underlying intensity which erupts as the chorus in time envelops the senses, warm and harsher textures united in infectious enterprise. That snarl infects the following twists and emotive throes of the track, the union of contrasting essences a magnetic web around an openly inflamed heart. Metal and heavy rock spices only add to the drama and adventure of the dark and rapacious incitement, the song showing the fresh move in the MiXE1 sound.

Accompanying the song is Meteor, a fireball of a proposition descending on ears with predacious intent from its first breath. A flame of guitars incites a wall of industrial toned synth bred intensity within which Evan’s warmer expressive vocals glow, backed by the similarly alluring tones of Towson who simultaneously offers a lively brooding bassline to get greedy over. With scything beats and bracing riffs building an industrial metal collusion with the synth rock endeavours of the synths, the track is a glorious blaze of sound and energy matching and occasionally over shadowing its companion.

With the release completed by the increasingly engaging remix of Don’t Break Apart by Ruinizer and featuring guest vocals from Richard K of Machine Rox, Erlend Eilertsen from Essence of Mind, and Roman Marisak out of Professional Murder Music/Spacetime along the way and extra synths from Studio-X, MiXE1 has returned brighter and bolder than ever before. Don’t Break Apart also provides a powerful teaser for the band’s second album due later this year, something we are already getting a touch impatient for.

Don’t Break Apart is available now @ https://mixe1.bandcamp.com/