Märcoda - My Imaginary Shores

Future bands take note: this is how you submit a demo. Just today I discovered Märcoda through an E-Mail sent to our address, and within that very same E-Mail Märcoda precisely stated that they wanted to submit a demo for review. Keyword there is demo. I cannot recall how many times bands have submitted their debut album or EP that sounds like a very horrible, brutally gnashed together, and as-of-yet-to-be-mastered piece of gutter shit only to find out later that it was not, in face, an EP or debut album but a demo.

Anyway, Märcoda is a three piece dark electonic outfit from Louisville, Kentucky. Of all the places I imagine dark electronic music emerging from, Kentucky is not the place I would handpick. They do describe the band as having misanthropic themes, but I feel as if that word has become overused as of late. Anything dark or gothic is labelled misanthropic anymore. I would chuck that term out the window and come up with a better way to label or describe your band and its music. 

The members attached to the band are as follows: Kandace Ferguson whose beautiful gothic voice will not be forgotten by far, Jerry Barksdale on electronics/vocals (he gives off a harder, screaming edge when it comes to singing), as well as Chris Dodd who also does electronics. Together, these three have released their first demo titled My Imaginary Shores. 

My Imaginary Shores can best be described as dark electro fused with gothic. However, gone are any weird distorted vocals and in place are the previously mentioned vocals from Ferguson. Her talent is immediately noticed on the second track 'Everstill'. A smooth, atmospheric electronic beat flows nicely as Ferguson shows us what she's capable of. This girl will be able to make head turns with that voice, I can tell you that much. The fact that this demo doesn't sound like it was recorded in a studio and that her voice doesn't sound altered at all, I find myself thinking that Ferguson is much, much more powerful than she gives off. In a way it sounds like she is hesitating to really let out her emotions and feelings when bringing herself to sing the lyrics. Make that voice pop; don't be afraid to let everything go; have a mental breakdown when singing; you have the talent, you just have to really push yourself to realize your full potential. 

What I do think should be cut are Barksdale's additional background vocals. They are agitating and improper next to the music they are presented with. I believe that Ferguson is just fine on her own, and unless voice lessons are taken, I think his addition should be gone. 

That being said, I will praise both Barksdale and Dodd for their electronic work. I was very impressed with the industrial influences and machine/factory like noises on the title track 'My Imaginary Shores'. The heavy and fast paced rhythm was awesome. Perhaps it doesn't fit too well with the rest of their material, as all four other tracks are smooth and melancholic electro tracks, but the title track is still wicked. 

Understanding that this is a demo, the last piece of advice that I will give Märcoda is this: Get into the studio, revamp your sound, and work with professionals. You guys have the talent and persona to get noticed, now is the time to invest some money into your potential. Until then, I'm wishing them good luck. I see good things for Märcoda. 
Mar 24 2016