Reset 89, the solo brainchild of Brisbane-based producer and songwriter Clay Wakefield, operates in that gritty intersection where alt-rock angst collides with electronic precision. After a long creative hiatus, Wakefield re-emerges with Influence, a tightly wound, concept-driven record that sinks its teeth into the chaos of online culture. Built entirely in his home studio, from writing and programming to mixing and mastering, the album feels like a one-man industrial machine, humming with distortion, obsession, and a clear sense of purpose. Drawing from โ80s synth textures and โ90s alt-rock bite, Influence dives headfirst.
Right off the bat, โThe Influencerโ kicks things into gear with shearing, icy guitars slicing through a revving bassline, while cymbals crash like sparks off metal. The vocals feel deliberately submerged, almost clawing their way out of the mix, repeating โWhy wonโt you follow me?โ like a desperate mantra. Itโs unsettling in the best way, capturing that hollow craving for validation. Then comes โConspiracy Guy,โ which doesnโt beat around the bushโitโs a sharp jab at the digital echo chambers breeding paranoia and noise, all wrapped in punchy, aggressive instrumentation.
โRTFMโ leans into sarcasm with a smirk, pairing crunchy textures and driving beats with a tongue-in-cheek frustration at spoon-fed internet culture. But things take a darker, more introspective turn with โSay Nothinโ,โ where whispery vocals slink through eerie, undulating synths before the drums drop like a sudden jolt. Itโs tense, almost claustrophobic. Later, โPrestonโ pulls everything back into a hazy, ambient space, as chiming guitars shimmer while muffled vocals drift like half-formed thoughts, offering a moment of quiet reflection amid the chaos.
All in all, Influence plays like a slow-burning critique. Check it out on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan