Erotomania by Brixx

“In the towering skyscrapers of downtown LA, psychologist Jennifer listens to the problems of the city's wealthy and powerful. But despite her success, she feels a growing sense of disconnection from her clients until she meets the chanteuse, Scarlett. As their sessions progress, her infatuation with the singer intensifies and she becomes entangled in Scarlett’s hedonistic world of clubs, drugs, and sex. When Scarlett’s life comes to a tragic end, Jennifer becomes a prime suspect in the investigation.”

Brixx, the Melbourne-based producer, delivers a cinematic fantasy with her conceptual LP, "Erotomania." The ten-track album (that includes two remixes) delves into the steamy erotic thriller genre, one where sexual prowess, desire and a flirtation with death have no bounds. "Erotomania" feels like a long-lost soundtrack to a turn-of-the-90s film—one that spills over with lust and seduction—as synth melodies purr and the gated drum machines exclaim overtop driving basslines.

“I wanted to create a soundscape that was an amalgamation of the musical palette defined by these films—icy synths, gated drums and arpeggiated bass,” says Brixx. “The challenge was to create instrumental pieces I could imagine in such a film, and then to use the defining elements of these scores to create music that could also be played on a dancefloor.” Inspired by scores from Wang Chung (specifically, "To Live and Die in L.A.") and Harold Faltermeyer, to Brad Fiedel and Claudio Simonetti, "Erotomania" is an adventure of twists and turns—and not without a little sleaze.

"Erotomania" begins with “Between Two Worlds,” a track that immediately captures the essence of the erotic thriller genre with a steady beat and sultry voice pads. “The Kindest Smile,” featuring Alex Akers of Forces, adopts an alluring new beat groove while “Private Practice” is a romantic interlude track that includes a saxophone solo. “Out of the Fog Into the Fire” contains a ferocity and darkness that symbolizes seedy avenues of unbridled fascination as Brixx’s domineering SH-101 bassline recalls the producer's EBM roots.

Featuring the vocals of Kim Little, the title track puts a spotlight on Little’s emotional and ethereal vocal performance—one that only enhances the weight of Brixx’s storyline. “Crash on Highland Avenue” is a score fueled by a building tension as percussive disco elements drive it to its bitter end. The closer, "Palms Beneath a Broken Sky," is subdued and melancholy, an opus that would fit securely alongside Tangerine Dreams' "Risky Business" soundtrack. Additionally, the "Erotomania" remixes are dance floor primed with Alpha Sect’s injection of slick EBM and the electro element added in the Stockholm Syndrome Au Remix.

SYNTHICIDE is a party and label that has nurtured dark synth-driven music in Brooklyn, New York since January 2014.

linktr.ee
SoundCloud
Instagram