Enabler-X: Nauticus

Enabler-X is a project led by Australian drummer/percussionist Mike Portley. For his latest release titled Nauticus the artist uses a myriad of field recordings - the album was recorded in a shed next to a rainforest. The music certainly has an experimental edge, with improvisation and different sound collages. The album is divided into eight tracks and totaling over sixty minutes. Here are the album credits:

Mike Portley (drums, percussion, synths, guitar, bass)
Liam Taylor (guitar on “Dark Whale�)
Bryan King (assistant production)

Dark Whale� begins the disc in chaotic fashion, the drumming setting the experimental tone, very off kilter and unpredictable. Eerie sound effects and textured guitar, built in layers, never letting the listener get too comfortable. “Untethered� is a dreamy piece, quite tranquil and much less chaotic and more cohesive than the previous track. Waves of synths and effects inform the edgy “Flotsam�, creating a catchy and mesmerizing piece. “Crystal Island� is the album’s longest track at over fourteen minutes and highlights some superb synths and percussion. It gets darker further in and one could easily imagine a surreal and disquieting place. More darker vibes infuse the mysterious sounding “Jetsam� featuring ominous synths and percussion sounds. The mood created is almost claustrophobic, the listener enveloped by the ensuing darkness.

Nauticus is one of those albums where headphones are essential, allowing the listener to be totally immersed in the music. For those interested in electronic and experimental music there should be lots to discover with this one.

Track Listing:
1. Dark Whale (4:26)
2. Untethered (8:48)
3. Flotsam (3:15)
4. Crystal Island (14:17)
5. Jetsam (6:20)
6. The Skull Anchor (10:19)
7. The Pirate Corpse (5:19)
8. Everyone’s Dead (7:41)

Added: September 10th 2025
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 110
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]