Mindspace - "A Universe Apart"
(Lifeplay Records 2002, TM9930)
Mindspace - "A Universe Apart"
(Lifeplay Records 2002, TM9930)
Uploaded to Aural Innovations: October 2003
Todd Mckenzie is the mind behind Mindspace. He is a California based musician who produces sort of atmospheric indie music, flowing through happy gangly stuff and saddened mournful stuff. I do not know much about him release wise, but I know that he plays all instruments on A Universe Apart, apart from the odd Bass and Guitar and some Keyboards. The rest is his creation.
The reason I mention indie music is because certain songs sound like British indie bands, the slow soulful diven stuff from the likes of Catherine Wheel or Swervedriver, and the later age ones such as Radiohead but without their drive. The tempo is quite stuck for the first handful of songs. The mood is sullen yet interesting atmosphere wise. The beats are indie, and this album would cater for a wider audience than our certain fields of review. I’m sure British indie heads would groove on it. I’m sure that it would have appeal to the gangly strummed guitar crowd, those of you who like dull songs would be delighted.
I keep hearing hints of poor British bands of this generation, ones who I cannot remember their names. I have heard many a band in the practice rooms of Sunderland trying and succeeding in this style of music. By all accounts its big business in England, hip to some, meaningful and all of that shit. But sadly for me it tread no new ground. It did not stimulate my Mindspace. It did not open new doors for me, rather keeping a tradition alive, as someone has too. I would say to Todd, you have a good sound here and your production is very high standard stuff. The whole album flows very well and the tunes and instrumentation are played great. The keyboards build an atmosphere that is interesting ambient and provoking. I just cannot get away with it. It is not what I listen to, it is not bad, it is good stuff, certain things get me, others don’t, I am the wrong ears for it. I like weird/spacey shit. I would try aiming at different places like more commercial British Magazines like the NME and Melody Maker. You never know who might pick up on it.
For more information you can visit the Mindspace web site at: http://www.mindspace.us.
Email at: todd.mck@verizon.net.
Contact via snail mail c/o Todd McKenzie; 825 Wilshire Blvd #113; Santa Monica, CA 90401.
Reviewed by Albert Pollard