Mads Steffànsson – Suicidal Frequencies (EP)

Blending electro and handmade elements in a highly unusual way, this EP of composer/producer Mads Steffànsson invites you into a sonic world you might have not been before.

When I first listened to this EP, I admit that I was puzzled because of the Oddworld-ish elements happening throughout the tracks. It took me some time to realize that these elements are the signature heart and soul of the artist’s music. The music showed me to expect the unexpected, and amongst other things, it’s exactly this eyebrow-raising unexpected feel that fascinates me in music.

The EP starts with “Rogue”, a seemingly handmade relaxed guitar tune. But only seconds later, you get wildly drawn into the world of Steffànsson by means of an edgy harsh beat and distorted guitar melodies. This unexpected change of texture creates a tension that won’t disappear over the next tracks. In a way, the tune feels like a transition from the mainstream world into creative land.

“North Western Law” combines a relaxed-paced beat with a quite minimal guitar base, which feels like a laid-back forward motion with a signature-styled train vibe courtesy of the percussive extras. The track takes its time, yet also adds some sparkling extras to keep away the linearity. “Noise Box” puts the focus a bit more on the melodic aspect of the EP, using strummed guitar chords as its main ingredient to add some soul to the blend. The relaxed nature of the tune creates an almost hypnotic scenery once you get lured into the calm melodies.

From here on, the EP switches from tension to a more vulnerable side. The most intriguing tune on the EP for me is “Pain in the Heart” which features vocals along a guitar-strummed concept. Those vocals add even more emotional content to the EP since they feel beaten down, but not broken. They have a certain texture attached, with a tagline saying “Still here, and the story is not over yet”. The EP ends with “Daydream”, a sensitive cover of the 1991 released Smashing Pumpkins song. While similar to the original regarding emotional output, the track brings a certain honesty to the table which leads to even more credibility. The lyrics are done with a very relatable undertone, you can hear that the artist doesn’t HAVE TO deliver. He WANTS TO.

All in all, the tunes that are found on “Suicidal Frequencies” are not mainstream, and I’m glad they’re not. While they all carry a certain melancholy within, even the more upbeat ones, they all have one thing in common: they don’t bow down to any regulations. Originating from the same heart and soul, in a way you can say they don’t bow down to life itself. They are done with a reason, and this shows in the rule-defying way they are creating their own universe.