Paradox Obscur - Artifact

Paradox Obscur is the minimal electronics duo formed by Werkstatt Recordings founder Toxic Razor and musician and vocalist Kriistal Ann. Attempting to exclude use of too many outside influences, Toxic Razor and Kriistal Ann formed Paradox Obscur in 2014. Since then Paradox Obscur has been on a non-stop music craze releasing album and EP after one another. Their debut album was brought to life via Peripheral Minimal and was shortly followed by a four track EP Noir in the same year. 2015 and 2016 saw the releases of Anacrusis and Atrapos respectively, with the latter being self-released. 2017 sees the release of their latest album Artifact via Young & Cold Records. 

Artifact contains ten tracks altogether, and if you have heard Paradox Obscur in the past than you will likely understand what you're about to get yourself into. This is both good and not necessarily bad, but redundant. Artifact plays out like a minimal techno album fixed with Kriistal Ann's voice and, occasionally, Toxic Razor's own chords. Going back and forth from whispers, to spoken word, and the usual singing voice, they certainly understand how to change up their normal routine. 

I think the most boring part of the album comes within the first four songs, however. We're introduced to 'Twilight' as the opening track which can be described as a bouncy minimal dance track. However, 'Desert of Distress', the title track of the album 'Artifact', and 'In Control' appear to the normal ear as having the same pace and rhythm with a few differences in between - some of which may even be too sparse to actually form a delineated opinion on them.

However, once 'Enhancer' kicks in we're given a different poise with strained vocals and a much darker, EBM kick to the song. It is with this song and the following that the album is revitalized with renew vigor and energy, something that was missing within the first block. The fun, synthpop feel of 'Ashes' and 'A Different Hum' brought a new dance to Artifact, while Testimony's slow beat allowed Kriistal Ann to flourish. 

While some might refer to this technique as being "too little, too late", I still find redemption on Artifact. It does have a very slow and boring beginning, but once I passed that I found myself thoroughly enjoying the album and what Paradox Obscur had accomplished. Perhaps this would have been better released as an EP if a couple of songs were cut from the final mix, but that's nothing that can be changed now. Give it a shot and if, like me, you find yourself in a daze skip a couple of tracks forward and discover something heartwarming to the electronic soul. 
Sep 16 2017