Review Summary: An interesting release from Megami
Opener "Plastic Fantastic" is a thick analogue scene-setter. This instrumental, ambient-clouded track echoes in and out of consciousness in a passive manner. It's nothing to write home about, but it's pleasing enough, if only to get us bedded in for what's to come.
Next up is "Resolution" which starts with wind chimes and bells, the whole lot sounding like some sort of Buddhist prayer – mechanical frogs and cyclic guitar reinforce this state of trance. The track continues with a driving beat, movement as the Monk barefoot searches out the forest on his journey of self-discovery up in the mountains on Datura.
"Easy Does It, Digger" switches things up a bit – gone is the religious and spiritual atmosphere presented in an ambient waistcoat. This track sounds more like a glitch-rave tracksuit kid out shoplifting. There's a certain uneasiness to it – maybe the Monk's having a bad trip now? Vocal samples are cut to smithereens and every word is indecipherable or it's some throaty synth that's trying to break free from it's opresser and tell us something.
"The Prize" takes us right back to our spiritual home, Tibet. There's a rough, abrasive quality around the music – like the Monk is burning himself in peaceful protest, the other instruments and performers continue playing around him, respecting his view.
The aptly titled closing track "Komodo Dragon" is a culmination of everything we've seen so far. A mess of birds and barking mixed in with glassy synthesisers. Things soon become more accessible when the beat drops in and things go a little disco. Swirling sounds swell and soar until it clears and a neat little coda brings this EP to an end.
