Bitcrush is the latest project for prolific American producer Mike Cadoo. Originally released as a net-only album in 2005, Shimmer and Fade has recently found a CD re-release. Cadoo’s modus operandi for Bitcrush is to combine live instrumentation and electronic production, resulting in a shoegaze via glitchy series of creations. Bitcrush’s short genesis to date has brought about several releases, prompting the re-release of this album for wider consumption. Whilst an admirable effort, one gets the feeling that Bitcrush’s prolificness possibly can result in the occasional moment of quantity preferred over quality.
Shimmer and Fade diverges between late 80s shoegaze inspired alternative rock and late 90s IDM, which unfortunately results in an awkward tension rather than a thematic combination of both elements. Shimmer and Fade opens promisingly with Shimmer, with its punishing waves of guitar vaguely reminiscent of a Hell’s Bells rung by Satan from himself. No Bridge No Water is an example of Bitcrush’s electronics-via-rock hybrid, with a Swervedriver via Plaid sound that is uncomfortably close to a pastiche of both shoegaze and IDM without developing any new innovations. And We Fade falls into a similar trap, with resourceful basslines submerged by lacklustre drum programming and an almost predictable post-rockesque epic climax.
There’s undeniably interesting ideas and elements throughout Shimmer and Fade that occasionally are swallowed a tendency towards plodding tempos, resulting in somewhat uninspiring and hollow passages. Whilst Cadoo’s arrangements are clever and genuinely interesting, the instrumentation and production utilised to realise the songs already sounds dated. Ultimately, despite some promise, Shimmer and Fade comes up a little short.
Andrew Tuttle
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