Released on the 24th of March, Delay Decay by Mort Jardin tells the story of brutality, numbness, fear, and nightmares, all packed with suffocating imagery of a torturous cell and a lot of things dripping in darkness.
In trying to perceive the darkness in Delay Decay, we must realize this vivid imagery couldn’t have been made possible without masterful artisanship and musical deftness. Mort Jardin blended genres and themes to provide the soundscape. He infused roadhouse blues with neo-psychedelia, jazz, indie rock, dark wave, post-punk, and alternative with layers of guitar riffing and reverberating over drum loops and driving basslines.
Mort’s musical sensibility shines through throughout the eight tracks in the album with his ability to create a cinematic realm of emotion and narration with each of his tracks and as a whole. The way he deployed the guitars, drums, and synths is particularly effective in world-building and genre-blending that draws on indie rock, shoegaze, and dream pop.
Having paced the album thoughtfully, the tracks flow seamlessly from one to the next. We find the opening track, “The Logician,” setting the tone for the album with its brooding guitars, introspective lyrics, and hazy voice. But the voice alternates right away to the second track, like Mort has come to another chapter of his life.
The album then builds to a climax with the propulsive “Soaked in Fever” before settling into the dreamy, introspective “Slow Thaw” and “Coastline,” perfect for drawing an end towards the closing track, “Wake up Morty.” A fitting end to the album, with its soaring guitars and introspective lyrics leaving the listener with a sense of hope and optimism.
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Review By: Naomi Joan