Cityscapes Design By Sound: A Sonic Postcard from Singapore
Alright, buckle up. Cityscapes Design By Sound is one of those albums that feels like someone handed a bunch of experimental musicians the keys to an abandoned arcade and said, “Go nuts.” Released in 2009 under Perspekt/f—a label clearly unafraid to take risks—this album dives headfirst into Electronic music with its feet dipped in Ambient, IDM (that’s Intelligent Dance Music for you newbies), Freestyle, and Experimental vibes. And yep, it’s as wild as it sounds.
Let’s start with the obvious: this isn’t your playlist fodder for Sunday brunch. No, sir. This is more like what happens when a city dreams out loud while stuck in traffic. It’s chaotic but strangely beautiful—the kind of thing you’d expect from Singapore, where futuristic skylines meet humid jungle chaos.
Now let me hit you with two tracks I can’t shake off:
First up, there’s “Our Prompter Is Skiped”. Yeah, they spelled "skipped" wrong—or maybe it’s intentional? Either way, this track slaps harder than bubble tea on a hot day. Imagine glitchy beats skipping around like caffeinated squirrels while layers of sound weave in and out like rickshaws dodging pedestrians. At points, it almost feels unfinished, but hey, imperfection has charm too. You know how some songs feel overproduced? Not here. It’s raw, messy, and kinda genius. Like graffiti art made entirely of circuit boards.
Then we’ve got “Darkness In Our Light”, which sounds exactly how walking through Marina Bay Sands at midnight might feel—neon lights flickering against dark skies. The opening synth line creeps up on you like a cat stalking a laser pointer, then BAM! A bassline drops so smooth it could sell condos. There’s something eerie yet comforting about it, like staring at rain-soaked streets through a foggy window. Honestly? If Gotham City had chill nights, this would be playing in every rooftop bar.
The rest of the album keeps things interesting, though not everything sticks. Tracks like “Where Am I” lean heavily into ambient territory, perfect if you’re trying to meditate or forget who you are for five minutes. Meanwhile, “16-Bit By Beat” throws down enough bleeps and bloops to make retro gamers nostalgic. But overall, it’s less cohesive and more like a mixtape compiled by friends arguing over whose turn it is to DJ.
Props go to the crew behind the scenes. Art Direction by Tom Merckx gives the whole package a sleek, industrial vibe that matches the music perfectly. Photography by Randolf Arriola adds a touch of surrealism, capturing moments that look like they were plucked straight out of a dream—or a fever-induced hallucination.
So yeah, Cityscapes Design By Sound isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for catchy hooks or lyrics you can scream in the shower, keep scrolling. But if you dig music that makes your brain tingle and your ears question their life choices, give this a spin.
And here’s the kicker: listening to this album feels like eavesdropping on a conversation between machines arguing philosophy. Weird? Absolutely. Worth it? Totally.
