The absolute experimental-industrial-noise unit Trace Amount has announced a smattering of new details regarding his new album Flagrant and some exciting collaborations coming along with it. While I’m not too familiar with two of his collaborators, Fatboi Sharif and The Buttress, I am more than familiar with infamous industrial / noise artist Lana Del Rabies. And they’ve just released their single Clinical on streaming. Check it out.
Trace Amount is multi-media artist Brandon Gallagher. Based out of Brooklyn, NY the project was started in response to life in NY during that time. Since then the project has evolved into a full on endeavor as Gallagher has released multiple singles, EPs, and a full length album (now two) in a six-year period.
Gallagher’s philosophy when it comes to industrial music is the same as what many modern industrial musicians abide by: not confining themselves to a single genre at any given time. Gallagher states: Through the nature of collaboration with various artists, the overall sound has dipped into different sub genres – whether that’s EBM, darkwave, post-punk, drone, or power electronics. There is definitely a dub influence, inspired in part by Mick Harris’ work in Scorn, and I am always subconsciously influenced by hip-hop production because that’s 80% of what I actually listen to on a daily basis.
Much to my pleasure Gallagher also brings the likes of sports and gym culture to his music due to the general atmosphere many of us find ourselves living in. He states: With the threat of civil war or another global virus,” he says, “yeah, you should probably be able to run a mile and then lift yourself up over a fence, because who knows what the fuck is going to happen. My music is designed to be your gym soundtrack.
Despite Gallagher’s commitment to open-ended song structure, there is a variable that refuses to die down on each release and that is general dread and ominous tidings. Even speaking on the lyrics Gallgher stated : It all spawns from pain, whether it’s personal or political. Lyrically, I’ve been able to create a vocabulary for Trace Amount that’s based around dystopian or cyber-horror scenarios.
Flagrant will be released via Bleakhouse Productions. You can pre-order the album in cassette and vinyl formats HERE.
