Sydney-based producer, Mr. Bill, has risen up over the course of the past few years as one of the most unique, and inventive artists in the electronic music scene, renowned for his adeptness with production, his tendency to stream his studio sessions and give tutorials, as well as for adding his own distinctive flair to the Glitch-Hop genre. Having earned a dedicated following during his career thus far, Mr. Bill fans have been waiting in eager anticipation to hear more from this electronic music virtuoso, with his last full length album, IRL, which was released in March, being nothing short of spectacular.
Not surprisingly, Mr. Bill’s newest release, Settling For Mediocrity, definitely does not leave fans disappointed, it being comprised of eleven cohesive tunes clearly representative of his signature style. Furthermore, the album still patently exhibits experimentation, making for a truly original, and innovative release. Despite the title, many fans will agree when they listen through that this album is far from mediocre.
Beginning with an ominous, thirty-second prelude entitled “Settling For Mediocrity“, a mysterious tone is set for the album, with the first full length tune, “Trickle” commencing with an assemblage of dark, eerie synths, evolving into a vivacious and dynamic tune. Next up is a collaboration with Freddy Todd entitled “Colloidal Drip“, which is also very animated, with spirited vocals on top of fast-paced, and funky glitch hop rhythms. A grooving coalescence of vocal chops, varying percussion rhythms, and lush pads, “Straight Up Seminal Shit” (Ft. Tha Fruitbat) is the fourth track of the album, followed by the lively “Shnaple Shlap” bringing an infectious burst of energy.
Taking the upbeat, groovy vibe to a climax, “Slate” is undoubtedly a highly memorable track, presenting a remarkable complexity, while remaining incredibly catchy. “Same” (Ft. Evoke) takes the album in a slightly different direction, filled with allaying synth sounds, and dulcet, haunting vocals, immediately followed by “Chlorine“, in which this tone intensifies. In my opinion, “Chlorine” is perhaps one of the most noteworthy tracks on this album, presenting an intriguing, and eccentric style that seems to epitomize the glitch hop genre.
A bright, and fun track featuring Slynk, “Girl You Got Me Insane” is also incredibly catchy, with a repeating, honeyed vocal sample to complement the unique arrangement of carefully constructed, glitchy synths and sounds. “Fingernail Compost” is quite diverse from the other tracks off of this release, it taking on a House Music style, with a steady rhythm of punchy kick drums, and a flowing melody voiced in twangy synths. The final track off of this album, which is a collaborative effort with Kursa entitled “Trench Squid“, also stands out from the other tunes, opening with a hard-hitting, dubstep-inspired section at the beginning, which then unfolds to become mellow, but dark, re-instating the ominous atmosphere from earlier in the album.
Settling For Mediocrity is indisputably a far from average release, demonstrating artistic growth and experimentation while remaining rooted in the style for which Mr. Bill has become renowned. With the title of the album intended to reflect the troubling artistic endeavour of trying to actualize ideas despite being faced with various limitations, the release is accompanied by the following message:
The title of the album is based on a feeling I believe all artists experience. Whenever I’m working on music (or anything for that matter) I’m always trying to chase an idea I have in my head and present it in reality where it can be observed, quantified and appreciated, only to realise that my idea or vision is too extreme or disproportionate to my skill set, leaving me constantly in a state of abandoning my art at a point where it can be classed as ‘complete I guess’ and settle for mediocrity.
TLDR: Art is never finished, only abandoned. We all settle for mediocrity.”
Support the album on iTunes, or through Mr. Bill’s website, where project files and stems are also available for purchase.
Be sure to also check out WRR’s exclusive interview with Mr. Bill, as well as 10 tracks that he thinks you need to listen to here.
Connect With Mr. Bill:
Facebook.com/mrbillartist
Twitter.com/mrbillstunes
Soundcloud.com/mrbillstunes
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