Thin and practically transparent, the sound of Modern Witch is purely intentional. By capturing audio on camcorder mics, Mario Zoots creates songs that already sound as though they are deeply embedded in the history of music. As far as cyberpunk philosophy goes, his methods are spot the fuck on. By creating the bootleg without actual release, Modern Witch’s recordings are like Polaroid photos. They steal moments, but give only the crudest and most rudimentary representation of them.  Unlike some of the other artists working lo-fi, Zoots’ production techniques never sound contrived or precious.  On the contrary, they are honest and simple.  His music is excellent, but the beauty is in the way that it is recorded.

It comes as no surprise that Zoots himself is an avid crate digger and historian of post-punk and minimal wave.  A simple conversation with him leaves the brain reeling with 120 nights worth of sodomous music to search and download off the blogs.  For those who have not had the formal introduction, a listen to his new, über low key mix will have to suffice. The Occult House Mixtape is not just a look into a man’s record collection. More importantly, it gazes deep within the mind of a movement.  With songs dating back as far as thirty years, Zoots has created a virtual timeline of subversive electronic angst.  Uncomfortable and restless, these awkward and unkempt beats add a pedigree to our destructive counter culture.

As with any selector worth his weight in salt and sulphur, it is nearly impossible to discern the vintage tracks from their progeny. Songs that sound like they came out in ‘82 may well have been released on Soundcloud yesterday.  There are those that lament the days when there were new ideas.  I for one, am proud to be part of the pastiche culture.

Download Modern Witch’s The Occult House Mixtape (Click Here)

Occult House Mixtape by Modern Witch

- Nattymari