XP8 - Two Of Three: Albedo

XP8 comes forth with the second EP in their Alchemy Series, titled Two Of Three: Albedo. Shining bright as always, with a very clean sound and tight production (which I really wish a lot of other bands could, or would, provide as to avoid sloppy and shit quality), this EP follows up on the previous with enlightening alternative dance music. Providing four new tracks, as well as the up and coming Avarice in Audio handing out a remix on the EP, you can expect to engage in some of the best tunes XP8 has ever delivered.

We Felt Nothing starts off the album, with a wicked sample eerily talking of music, which eventually escapes into a very nice electronic beat. Fans of EDM will definitely enjoy this track; each beat that rolls off the song will make you want to dance, and the vocals were absolutely spot on in every sense of the word. Hit in the next track, The GIft, and you'll just learn that this duo can easily shift from one musical assembly to the other, without diving strenuously into the same sound bank to crack out songs that sound similar to one another. The musical creativity found within these two is astounding at points.

Queue in Heatwave, and your hit with a slower moving track that plays well off the slow moving drum'n'bass. The whispering vocals serve well in the song, most of the time remaining as just another element to move along the track. It's really about half way through the song, after allowing you to enjoy the instrumental beauty for a good two minutes, that the lyrical content really comes out. Melancholy yet reassuring, they were once more pin pointed wonderfully.

A Greater Goal combines rigid guitar lines to the mix, the electronics following suit and contracting a harsher sense about them. The vocals also come out angrier, therefore embedding a bit of a growl with them. Some wonderful trance elements later in the track absolutely make the song even more riveting than previously; it's always lovely when a song can change its tone to keep the listener completely attracted the whole time.

And, lastly, Avarice in Audio gave a complete makeover to Inside Their Heads. A lovely bit surrounded with elements from house to dubstep-styled glitches, it was well done. I think my favorite section of the song appeared around the two minute and fifty second mark, where a steady rhythm formed and all the sounds came together in complete harmony. Excellent.

And, it's bittersweet knowing that this is the second-to-last release that shall be coming out from XP8. But, times change, as does music. And, if there is anything I can really say, it's that I'm glad that they are going out on a high note. Some bands come and have their time, serving great releases, but their original intentions fade as time goes on, dissipating into nothing more than a past fiasco that no one really remembers or cares for. These guys aren't doing that; they're leaving the fans and the genre wanting more from them, and that is the best way to go out. To satisfy fans, and have a great run as they have is an accomplishment that few can ever hope to achieve. But they have. I can only look forward to their next release. I might even shed a tear at their last musical output. Nov 16 2014