john tejada: signs under test

L.A.-based synth mastermind John Tejada returns with new album Signs Under Test, comprised of all-new material. This latest effort sees the studio wizard digging deeper into his modules, unearthing particularly dreamy tracks that rank among John's most accomplished work to date. From the get-go, Signs Under Test presents itself as a whole new ball of wax, reaching even further into the depths of John Tejada's hot-wired synth machinery, while cranking up the already stunning levels of musicality on display in his oeuvre. Opener "Two 0 One" serves as a prime example for the sonic aplomb in place, thanks to its beautifully-rendered melodies and finely-tuned textures -- a perfect storm made of cozy melancholy and celestial bliss. This expertly-wrought piece serves as a particularly strong entry point for the album, setting the bar high for its successors. An unabashedly brilliant listen, the album continues its thrilling journey with existential bleepfest "Y 0 Why" and the bass-heavy "Beacht," followed by the intricately arpeggiated "R.U.R." and brooding electronica vignette "Vaalbara." The second part is ringed in by the undulating "Cryptochrome" -- more proof of John Tejada's uncanny ability to craft tracks that operate as distinguished bouncers as well as introspective meditations. The deliberate vivacity of connecting cuts "Rubric" and "Penumbra" only confirms the growing suspicion that this might be a timeless masterpiece we're dealing with. As gorgeous as it sounds, texture isn't the only star here: a surprisingly diverse set of rhythm patterns suffuses the mesmerizing synth licks -- take for example the multilayered "Endorphins" effortlessly switching between straight techno stylings and vintage breakbeat ornaments. Meanwhile, electronic landscape painting "Meadow" purrs away on its road to redemption, priming the listener for closing cut "Heave in Sight," an atmospherically-rich composition that marries abstract storytelling with a flurry of reversed synth sounds. This album makes for a quite personal listening experience, taking the listener up close with its details and idiosyncracies, "maybe even more than before, as I've tried to cut out distractions and really focus on the production." The result is a record that is not meant to be trendy, even though it's a product of analog hardware connoisseurship: "Everything is built from the ground up using hardware synths -- mostly analog, but that's a bit annoying to say nowadays. It's not a record that fits in with any current stuff, but something that hopefully holds up as it ages. Something that hopefully reveals more on repeated listens." This mission has been more than accomplished with Signs Under Test.