Music Review: "Cabin Fever" single by Elektragaaz

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If you were to compose a melody to reflect anxiety, how would it sound? It would probably be fast, to mirror the millions of thoughts racing through your mind. Maybe it’d have a lot of fluctuation, to echo your changing moods and their intensity. But it’d also be rhythmic, like your heartbeat. And, it would sound a little dissonant, similar to the discomfort brought on by anxiety.

"Cabin Fever" single by Elektragaaz on The Synesthetic Picture Show Now Playing Part One

If you’re having a bit of trouble imagining all of this, worry not, Elektragaaz has already done it for you. The band — headed by “a mysterious and intensely private” composer with synesthesia, who goes by Poppo Redband — has recently released “Cabin Fever,” which is a “salute to all of us who are hanging tough and sheltering in place.” And it's a strangely enjoyable track.

Inspired by Redband's neurological condition, the track is a “volatile blend” of styles that include "classical music, hip hop, rock, club, techno, pop, dance, film noir, comic books and video games.” It was arranged and produced by Trebor Lloyd, and featured on the band's digital EP, The Synaesthetic Picture Show Now Playing Part 1, which dropped on Feb. 12th, with additional EPs being released by the instrumental and electronic group every three to four months thereafter.

According to the press release, the band was formed thanks to a mysterious phone call received by Trebor Lloyd, as he was hanging out at his Manhattan apartment on a late spring evening in 2017. Upon answering, he was met with a long silent pause, which was interrupted by a youthful sounding: “Hello, I see some music that needs listening.”

Intrigued by the strange statement, he inquired about the person on the phone. After another long pause, he was met with: “I don’t use my real name. I go by Poppo Redband, but just Redband mostly.” Although Lloyd was unable to learn anything substantial about the person on the other end of the line that day, he was able to comb out the basics.

Although Redband is very good at hiding his identity, we know that he is “a fledgling video games developer as well as a composer, purportedly based in Friesland, a province of the Netherlands.” And he was contacting LLoyd because he “was working on a musical project… and wanted to gather collaborators and a producer for what he called his musical ‘quest.’”

Shortly thereafter, Redband began sending Lloyd electronic tracks via WeTranfer, Dropbox, and Google Drive, with the material coming in from an array of email addresses. Liking what he was hearing, Lloyd then did his part and pulled in the most talented musicians he could find around the bustling metropolis.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Note* Album provided for objective review by our partners.