To start on a personal note: Mindpark is at this point a fairly anonymous band, unheard of by most. The release of this debut-album (listen HERE) will not be an event to most music-lovers in The Netherlands. To yours truly, it is a highly-anticipated moment. Not only through years of acquaintance, but also through personal involvement as a booking agent and, briefly, as a stand-in bassplayer. A witness to the events that led up to a sudden change of (musical) course, there’s a lot of inside knowledge and bias in the scope of this article. What will follow is an attempt to examine a few of the qualities showcased on We Will Adapt, from the inside.
Hailing from the southern city of Den Bosch, Mindpark have always profiled themselves as leftwing, alternative artists on a quest for pop sensibilities. Their music is riddled with plenty of rhytmic novelties, layered guitars and unexpected stylistic turns. Whenever they fear the music is at a standstill, they switch gears, taking on different influences and directions as they move along. In other words: the music is always happening, the process of growth is never completed. They pre-released 9 tracks that were to become an album in May 2010, leading many to believe that an album was to follow soon. It took them a full year, and only three songs from this pre-release survived to tell the tale.
A noticeable change with earlier live appearances and released tracks is the more acoustic approach, with lighter percussion elements. The rock stomp is kept to a minimum. Vocals have gained weight in the balance, with some excellent vocal harmonies in Box Is Better, one of the more accessible gems on the album. Throughout the album, (main songwriter) and producer Ralph Timmermans maintains a remarkable clarity and transparency, the only exception being progrock-ballad Closer, one of the older songs that made the cut. It comes armed to the teeth with strings and synthpads. It’s a moving song, but doesn’t sit comfortably with the other songs in this collection.
Experiments, such as the frantic guitar-driven tracks Must Be Chemical and Microwaves add the necessary elements of surprise, without turning the album into a sonic wasteland. The trio has adapted, not only to their own predicaments but also to the Listener, a party they’ve come to appreciate over the years. We Will Adapt is not a record made solely for their own pleasure; Mindpark is a band with stories to tell, full of angst and hope, and with a will to affect audiences with bittersweet melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Despite the many adventurous turns - inhospitable to some ears - on this record, there’s an emotive quality to this inaugural Mindpark record that hits the mark. A solid first effort.
Mindpark - We Will Adapt is available for download from 04-15 and in stores 05-21 through Cavalier Music Management and V2.
