When last we checked in with Mint Pillow almost two years ago, the synth whiz was just releasing his second eponymous EP, a five track collection that showcased the producer’s eclectic style and influence palette that includes nu-jazz, breakbeats, hip-hop, and downtempo electronica. Fast forward to the present and he’s back with Mint Pillow III (via Crift Records), the next entry in the EP series.
This time around, it feels like Mint Pillow has narrowed in on some other influences, mainly the neon sheen of 80s-influence synth and vaporwave dance music. The songs on MPIII tend to shift a gear up from their predecessors, feeling like the score to a forgotten sci-fi flick abounding with Tron-style speeder bikes and the glammed-up grit of a cyberpunk fever dream. The Star Wars referencing “Dagobah Stomp” serves as a keen indicator for the types of influences Mint Pillow might have surrounded himself with while making theses songs.
Opening track “Jeepers Creepers” delights with its driving dance beat that props up some goofy lyrical ad-libbing, one of the few moments where you’ll find the human voice across these tracks. One of those other moments comes on “Freaked Me Out,” where we hear some simple spoken word vulnerability about feeling bad vibes. While used sparingly, these light vocal elements help ground the wide landscape of synth textures, helping MPIII to become something more concrete in theme than a simple collection of the producer’s most recently completed beats.
Tracks with nu-disco elements are interspersed among a few downtempo explorations, but what is consistent throughout the songs is Mint Pillow’s keen ear for layering synth melodies. He never overstays his welcome on any tracks, opting for more economical track lengths to avoid repetitive song structure. A personal favorite is “Good News” which checks in at a whopping 1:26. It’s almost a tease at that length when the beat is so tight, catchy, and danceable.
To coincide with the release, there will be a limited first run of 25 cassettes available for purchase, which you can find online at Bandcamp or in person at Vinyl Index at Bow Market in Somerville or Deep Cuts Deli in Medford.
Listen to Mint Pillow III on your preferred streaming service, and be sure to buy the album on Bandcamp. Mint Pillow will begin performing at his residency at State Park in Kendall Square in February, as well as at a residency at Vinyl Index.