In his latest album The Bloom of Performance, Mark Trecka, a sound artist, singer, and organizer (originally from Chicago and now based in France), blends sound art textures and hypnotic, looping elements that have distinguished his work and garnered widespread recognition. The Bloom of Performance introduces a harmonious blend of these elements with the rich, emotive tones of art pop, post-punk, and dream pop. The resulting sound draws parallels with the unique styles of Dirty Beaches, Cindytalk, Circuit Des Yeux, This Mortal Coil, and David Bowie – something novel, yet familiar.
The initial single from the album, Wrestled To Regard, emerges as a contemplative exploration, reminiscent of the understated elegance found in the works of David Sylvian or the experimental phase of Scott Walker during his Tilt period. The composition is marked by its sparse bass and the resonant depth of the vocals, a Lynchian moment. Trecka’s vocal range is a study in dynamism, with moments of soaring elevation and grand pathos as the track moves with a deliberate pace akin to a languid stroll through a tunnel within some ethereal realm. As the piece reaches its bridge, the piano expands, unfurling a sound that could only be described as beautifully psychedelic.
“There’s no grand, personal narrative about this record that I want to share with the public,” Trecka says. “But I will say this: I very much wanted to make a record that I would want to listen to; that –– if I encountered it –– I would be compelled to share, to put the songs on mixtapes for my closest friends. I wanted to make the kind of record that might alchemize pain and anxiety and madness for those friends.”
Listen to “Wrestled To Regard” below:
The Bloom of Performance stands as one of Trecka’s most ambitious endeavors, enriched by the adept engineering and co-production talents of Sam Skarstad from Yellow Eyes. Set for release on 23 February, the album was a year in the making, featuring collaborations with Martin Courtney of Real Estate and Evan Hydzik of Pillars and Tongues.
Trecka is co-founder and lead organizer of the Beacon Prison Books Project, a volunteer-run solidarity program that provides free books to people incarcerated throughout New York State.
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