proem - negativ review from purist online, by synctank after hearing proem's elusive, yet radiant debut release 'burn plate no. 1' on hydrant records, i was very much looking forward to investigating what this outstanding project was going to do for a follow-up. i was happy to hear that the sophomore album 'negativ' was going to be released by the up-and-coming miami-based label merck, home to such acts as syndrone, md, and machine drum. 'negativ' contains the crunchy, abrasive, broken-beat glitchiness of 'burn plate…' but this time around, proem decided to back up this already complex mixture with more maturity and control over the emotional and melodic contents of his sound, marrying cohesive melody presence with complex beat structures. after getting through 'negativ' for the first time, i could immediately detect something special about this album. after countless additional listens to 'negativ', i realized that my intuitions were correct. the songs here are more developed and intricate compared to proem's first offering, giving each song a certain glow of prestige. in addition, each song develops its own personality, using intricate arrangements, dark undertones, and compelling beats to build a strong musical structure. proem's 'negativ' is another contender for my top 10 list this year; a highly imaginative and addictive album that will most certainly appeal to fans of beefcake, phonem, or gimmik. highly recommended.

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