On Technocene (Piano, Transverse Flute & Electronic) the artist Whadat XP questions our relationship with technological advances and the ever growing struggle to hold onto whatever control we have as the lines between humans and machine blur.
In Predictions 2 (Piano, Electronic) and Avoid Dissolution (Transverse Flute, Electronic) Whadat XP successfully conveys the theme with both piano and flute acting like a human heart and soul working against a backdrop of distorted moments and an ever changing landscape. Every minute results in a captivating listen that is gripping from beginning to end.
Predictions 2 starts with a pulsing heartbeat rhythm and the question "do you feel we should fear the power of this technology or should we embrace it?" There are voices answering that question, and later others who again contemplate it, the piano plays on around those voices doing what it always has.
At times the piano crawls and at other times it seems like it is being held over a roofs ledge but it always manages to dictate where it wants to go no matter how many motorbike engines/chainsaw roars/gun shots try to silence it. As the track ends the electronics try to mimic it but the human heart appears stronger.
Part 2 Avoid Dissolution (Transverse Flute, Electronic) a flute slowly takes stage with every sound seemingly affecting the world around it with broken beats and intermittent dialogue alongside an ominous drone until it is replaced with an alluring flute arrangement that is cinematic reminding me of scores from the 70's. Scenes from the movie Serpico (1973) were playing in my head upon first listen although musically they are quite different. The flute of course has to then make way for a techno takeover before the two agree to merge if only for a moment before going their seperate ways.