The acidity akin to a raw car battery, the sensation of buoyant synths, the deep-driving elation of booming basslines, the rebellious spirit of hardstyle, and the epic drops of dubstep, are all in play in versatile music producer mentalEscape’s latest album dubbed “Upgrade.” Whichever way you decide to look at it, the music here is an indisputable upgrade from the mediocre electronic beats you have become accustomed to. Conjuring up the nostalgic of the yesteryears, wearing his heart in his sleeves via his hands-on approach, the music is irresistible, uncontainable, hard-hitting, atmospheric, and cinematic, offering a direct route to escapism as you put the entire album on loop.
“Pasha’s Night Out” immediately evokes a celebration, with its gist residing on its traditional vibe. This jam is a mesmerizing blend of global electronic beats with rich, vibrant South Asian sounds. Imagine the pulsating synths and powerful bass drops intertwining with the rhythmic complexity of traditional percussion instruments. Now imagine no more because that is “Pasha’s Night Out” in a nutshell—a track carrying the euphoric energy of a dance festival while evoking a sense of culture and identity.
“Keep Going” is hard-hitting off the bat, containing the expressive sawtooth lead synths, emphatic basslines, heavy drums, and some trap sensibilities, making it the ideal banger to move to with thoughtless abandon. Filtered through an organic hardstyle caliber, this is an action-packed, acid-dark, and tempting tune that highlights mentalEscape’s production dexterity.
“The Salton Sea” transports a listener to another dimension with its signature drums and bass fashioning a trap-EDM masterpiece with a plethora of twists and turns to keep a listener heavily invested. For the keen listener, it feels like the next track “Os and 1s” is an upgrade to this, upping things a bit and keeping them interesting.
“Os and 1s” is characterized by its heavy use of 808 drums, snare rolls, and hi-hats, conjuring up a high-energy festival-ready nature that appeals to club and dance audiences. Its booming basslines and aggressive drops with the iconic crunk vocals result in a hard-hitting banger that blends trap, hip-hop, dubstep, and EDM.
Another bona fide standout is “Night Drive,” a high-energy track with resounding basslines, shimmery synths and pads, and a hauntingly beautiful rhythm. The track mirrors that feeling of an open road under the quietude of a serene night with nothing but your own introspective thoughts and this music to aid the feeling…something so close to heavenly. Foot on gas, an appreciable volume, and a moment worth relishing.
There are not enough words to quantify this project as a whole. This is a wholesome nostalgic experience from one of the best sonic innovators in the game. He has been doing this long enough to understand exactly what it is that electronic music lovers crave, and he serves it here delectably. Enjoy!