Digital Suspiria is already the fourth album by New York electronic music producer Vexillary, released two years after his previous record, Horror in Dub, which we reviewed in the Garaje back then. In fact, we’ve written about every one of his releases since we first got our hands on one of his EPs a few years ago. We’ve declared our admiration for his music and talked so much about Vexillary—we even included him in the only release we’ve published—that we’ll skip listing his past works and move straight to the new album. It’s available in digital format on his Bandcamp, along with the three singles released ahead of the album. Digital Suspiria has been released by con:trace, the artist’s own label. The big news, though, is that a video game has been created to accompany the album.
Let’s start with the game, which has been released recently. Digital Suspiria (the game) was created using the Unity engine, and it includes three different levels that act as an extension of the artist’s music. The first level—the easiest one—reflects Vexillary’s aesthetic through its colors, and you defend yourself from your enemies with a sword. The second level is a bit more difficult and just as frantic as the music of the New York-based producer: it’s a race with a spaceship in which you must collect coins while dodging obstacles and enemies. Finally, there’s a futuristic-feeling shooter—also in line with the music of Digital Suspiria—in which you must take down endless waves of enemies.
The game is free, and you don’t even need to download it.
If you started with the game, you’ll probably want to continue with the album, released a few months back to very good reviews. Although Vexillary hasn’t stopped evolving, he’s had a recognizable sound of his own for a while now, as the start of “Pardon Me” proves — those beats and those fast rhythms are already the house style. With this new work, Reza Seirafi has perfected that blend of techno with EBM, trance and synth pop touches that we already found on his previous records. This first track features a fantastic performance by Baylee, a recurring voice on the New York-based producer’s latest works, who fits perfectly with Vexillary‘s songs, giving a sweeter, more commercial and at the same time ethereal touch to music that is, at every moment, frenetic. The choppy effects give the composition a greater sense of urgency, and Reza delivers another production full of detail. It’s simply fantastic music to listen to in a club. “Kill Shot” is an adrenaline rush with a very catchy chorus. Baylee’s performance is sensual with a touch of danger. “1000x” is another addictive, fast-paced track, with a glorious chorus and fantastic production. It’s one of the best songs on the album, its darkness managing to convey a feeling of euphoria. “Away,” with Reza’s own voice, sounds darker and more menacing thanks to the producer’s voice, which adds variety to the record. The sense of acceleration running through the whole album is one of its greatest achievements, and “Actor Bahn” is an example of this. It’s a fast, powerful instrumental track, perfect for dancing in the clubs of the future. Baylee returns for the title track, “Digital Suspiria,” is another frenetic composition with a fantastic performance from the singer that would have made a good single. Reza’s intense performance on “Werewolf” contrasts with the frenetic rhythm, in another track that shows off Vexillary‘s mastery of production. We go back over the same sequence (vocals by Baylee – Reza – instrumental) with “Riptide,” a fast, dark instrumental track. Digital Suspiria comes to an end with “Trance U.S.A,” a catchy, powerful track with hard-hitting percussion that leaves you wanting more.
