January 7, 2020
The Rust Music
Combining infectious rhythms and swollen, emotive textures, Arkansas-based producer Jonteal puts an interesting approach to modern low-end design in his third EP, Mezmerize. His poignant synthesis and compositional command blend into a purée of pure mood music. The combination of tracks on Mezmerize give it a wide berth for a double sided release; the arrangements are extremely fluid, with tendrils of influence from glitch and psychedelic music reflected with soothing twists. The mid-range patches and tones are smoothed around the edges, trading a soft bite for a large impact. Jonteal's diverse use of stereo space allows every melody and rhythm to shine in synchronicity. Bright, precision percussion and thumping downbeats are the workhorse of both tracks, matching up with the movements of each bass line with whipcord ferocity. The mingling of that ferocity and an abundance of atmospheric movement define Jonteal as a forward thinking musician, and highlight a deep affinity for structure and tonal relationships. The powerful undercurrent of those relationships is what gives Mezmerize it's lasting impact. Artwork by Resonant Language Mastering by Greg Perrin (Dende)