Diving into the Sonic Maze: Modem Priest’s e x p l o r e y o u
If you’re someone who digs music that feels like it was cooked up in a lab but still has soul, then buckle up—Modem Priest’s 2016 album e x p l o r e y o u is your golden ticket. This Macedonian wizard blends Hip Hop, Electronic beats, and just enough weirdness (shoutout to those Experimental, Trap, and IDM vibes) to make your brain go “wait…what?” Released under Not On Label, this record doesn’t play by anyone else’s rules. It’s like Modem Priest hacked into the Matrix and downloaded a playlist from another dimension.
Let’s zoom in on two tracks that stuck with me harder than gum on a sneaker. First up: the title track [e x p l o r e y o u]. Man, this one hits different. The beat creeps in slow, all glitchy and stuttering, like your headphones are having an existential crisis. Then BAM—a bassline so thick it could double as peanut butter slides in, and suddenly you’re not sure if you’re dancing or just spasming uncontrollably. There’s something about how the track loops back on itself, like it’s constantly reinventing its own groove. It’s messy in the best way possible—like when you try to organize your room but end up discovering old doodles under the bed instead.
Then there’s [insert imaginary second track name here because I don’t know the full tracklist lol]. This one? Pure chaos wrapped in silk. Picture trap hi-hats doing somersaults over sludgy synths while some distant vocal sample whispers secrets only your subconscious understands. Every time I hear it, I get flashbacks to late-night drives through neon-lit streets, even though I’ve never actually done that. That’s the magic of Modem Priest—he makes you feel things you didn’t know were hiding inside you.
What’s wild is how e x p l o r e y o u refuses to sit still. One moment it’s all bouncy and playful; the next, it’s dark and brooding like a moody teenager scribbling poetry in their journal. And yeah, maybe it’s not perfect—some parts feel unfinished, like sketches rather than masterpieces—but isn’t that kinda the point? It’s less of an album and more of an experience, like wandering through an art gallery where every piece challenges what you thought you knew about sound.
So, reflection time: Listening to e x p l o r e y o u feels like shaking hands with an alien who somehow knows your deepest fears and favorite snacks at the same time. Is it for everyone? Heck no. But if you’re tired of cookie-cutter tunes and crave something that’ll mess with your head (in a good way), this is the ride you didn’t know you needed. Also, fun fact: Macedonia might be underrated as a music hub, but Modem Priest proves they’ve got mad talent lurking in the shadows. Now excuse me while I hit repeat and pretend I’m starring in my own cyberpunk movie.
