quilium breaks stylistic boundaries on climatoGRAFIQ, a 26-track odyssey merging art rock and experimental electronic music. Tackling systemic capitalism and ecological despair in its impactful thematic aims, the album weaves eclectic guitar work, synth textures, and biting social critiques into a fiercely original, collaborative soundscape.
The album opens with atmospheric, guitar-led expression within “veryalien,” a compelling instrumental with guitar work spanning from submerged lushness to bursting ardor. That psych-rock flair then moves into the warming folk sentiments of “between the universe, that hurts,” where caressing acoustics drive into a welcoming vocal presence: “hallelujah, welcome to ya.” The wandering vocal feeling and art-folk disposition reminds fondly of black midi’s more understated efforts. “tenaCITY” then continues the album’s dynamic start, here embracing clanging piano movements alongside a danceable percussive pulse. The album weaves vocal-touched tracks following instrumentals, playing with scene-setting allure, from the woozy, spacey electronic intrigue of “exbreviations” to the vintage electro-pop within “step TWO” and the shoegaze-y rock textures of “smash n grab.”
Another standout track, “CATwash” unveils an affecting electronic art-pop sound, re-envisioning the classic ’70s funk track “Car Wash” amidst themes of systemic exhaustion, set within an absurd workplace scenario. Lyrically, it frames the daily grind as a rigged game designed to extract compliance: “A metaphor you dumbass / For all the dumb tasks that / capitalism demands.” climatoGRAFIQ delights in its mixture of societal critique and melodic hookiness, and “CATwash” is an especially stellar example. Comparable modern laments shine on “Adulting is Hard,” featuring Froggy Z. Nostalgic, glimmering synths bolster a robotic-feeling vocal delivery, contemplating the weight of accountability as a parent. “When you fail as a parent / The guilt eats you from within,” the vocals resonate, aspiring to be “the dad you confide in.” The album stirs in a variety of lyrical perspectives, ranging from musings on rampant capitalistic exploitation to depicting the internal struggles of being a parent.
Elsewhere, “lying in the snake pit” emits a sense of personal tumult, infusing a debonair hip-hop vocal stride alongside deploying artistic confidence as a shield against societal madness — apparent in the “music is your muse” proclamation that evolves into “only to see your face” relief within the snake pit setting. “Ridin’ the bus” delights as well, its “I can’t see anything but you” on-the-bus lyricism resembling the role of “your face” in the aforementioned snake pit; both tracks consume in their representation of an escape and recovery point in spite of ongoing strife. A strong one-two instrumental punch shows well in closing the album. “porous smorous” is enjoyably reminiscent of Unknown Mortal Orchestra in its stylish, soaring guitar emphasis, while album finale “Born Silent II (with Totes Ferosh)” propels forth with arp-y synths and spacious atmospheric mystique, culminating in rumbling rhythms and a deeply moving nocturnal, electronic soundscape. climatoGRAFIQ is a dynamic, ambitious tour-de-force of an album from quilium.
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