Simon Grab — Posthuman Species

Hot on the heels of his Extinction EP this year on -OUS, Simon Grab pushes forth a thoughtful, noise-scented potpourri of sound with Posthuman Species. Held together with pulses and oscillations, Simon's latest melds unstructured overtones with timed, propulsive sounds to create something that is both free but also grounded. Packed with many layers that surface upon repeated listens, Posthuman Species is a cleverly dense, yet fairly minimal slice of electronic experimentation.

Unfolding over thirteen tracks, Posthuman Species tells an interesting tale of mechanics and humanity, and their growth into an indistinguishable breed. Working with multiple layers, all varied in tone, texture, and tempo, Simon Grab pulls apart electronica, takes the bits he wants, tweaks them as desired, and cobbles together an interesting approach with one foot in dance and one foot in noisy experimental. Without ever feeling drawn out, the compositions on Posthuman Species take their time and wiggle, warble, and worm their way into the deeper folds of the listener's brain. Whether actively listening or letting the tones be absorbed however they see fit, this album not only stands up to, but demands multliple listens. Like a training manual for cybernetic integration, Grab's latest unlocks the hidden message behind the language of squeals, pulses, and noise.

Some of the best albums out there defy categorization, and Posthuman Species definitely cannot be pigeonholed. Whether it's for subtle headnods, intriguing squeaks and squeals, or engaging background layers, Simon Grab has put out quite a treat with a little something for everybody. Perfect for a few hours in front of the computer, Posthuman Species starts the listener off on their posthuman proselytism with aplomb.