Ugly Season

Breathtakingly uncanny, Mike Hadreas’ unique sixth album is a bold, widescreen musical theater that, unlike its predecessor, exquisitely unravels the mystical marvels of experimentalism—another magnificent proof that he thrives in wherever his ambition leads him. It is a survey of what music could be in the future.

On Mike Hadreas’ new album, he invites you to savor the thrilling soundscapes of experimentalism. The tracks barely have a firm structure: driven by their striking and expressive production rather than their few words. It is his newfound approach to crafting his music. Throughout his career, Mike has always centered around building phrases and sentences as his principal instrument to narrate stories, often utilizing melodies merely as their accompaniment to represent inutterable emotions. Only on 2020's fantastic 𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘔𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 did he begin to shift his focus, exploring the vast possibilities of cinematic composition. With utmost care and wisdom, He constructed a surreal, grimy, dusty world—wherein run-down places and characters he creates become more polished, more vivid than ever—by interspersing his eloquent poetry with violent trashes of guitar and violin strings. It was the well-balanced amalgam of his lyricist and composer self. But on his new album, his elegant phraseology recedes, embracing the gripping, avant-garde music that treads a fine line between the ugly and the beautiful.

The result is his boldest, most astonishing record to date. Never has he ever whirled his style and persona around this remarkably drastically. From the gorgeous prima donna to the unforgettable queer icon to the disheveled anatomist, Mike is constantly reinventing himself, transforming his new, ambitious roles into sensational performances. But his previous projects never stretch beyond the structural basis nor the bounds of earthly sounds. 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 is the metamorphosis that alienates all of that, marvelously inventing a brand new palette for his new ambition. He highlights this dramatic change from the beginning: "No pattern, no bloom, where I'm taking you," he mumbles weakly, overtaken by its roaring, leady brigade of various instruments. What remains from his past eras is his limitless creativity and unwavering identity. The melodies are uncanny and fiercely experimental—their textures meticulously layered, bound together by his raspy, wide-ranging voice. With unique tracks like "Eye in the Wall" and "Hellbent," 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 is unequivocally certified as another profound self-reinvention from Mike. But it is also a survey of what music could become in the future.

Thus far, in 2022, nothing has sounded quite like 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯. Perhaps it is because it does not lean heavily towards any genre in particular. 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 utilizes harmoniums, celestes, and string arrangements prominent in classical music, but they are often mingled with synths, guitars, and massive drums widely present in mainstream pop music. The charismatic and crystalline "Pop Song" may be, as its title suggests, a pop song, but the dramatic switches into a more tropical, luxuriant soundscape between each chorus deviate it from fully becoming a pop banger. Many tracks here have this staggering twist, a recurring theme that expands 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯's artistic landscape. We see this motif first in "Herem"—translating classical influences into light industrial music in the second half. Each progressing track then follows suit, becoming more tumultuous and peculiar each time. In this perspective, the last leg of the album serves as the culmination, where Mike's adventure into experimentalism reaches its desired destination. The composition in "Photograph" and "Hellbent" is so belligerent, so wild and abstract, that the songs leave us utterly speechless, unknowing of where Mike will lead us next. 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 altogether delivers an eerie and bizarre experience unlike any other in 2022. An album this unique and astounding, this extraordinary and groundbreaking, could be a benchmark: a guideline for future creations, a survey of what music could be—a remarkable avant-garde.

Even if the refreshing, inventive melodies are in the spotlight, Mike's concise yet cryptic songwriting still acts as a great supporting character. Words are scarce here, written within less than ten words per line. However, they stretch out his world-building to a broader, more thorough scale, giving each song a purpose to examine. A king of elaborate verses, he floods his enthusiasm for Greek mythology, Zodiac signs, and nature references to strengthen 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯's vague narrative and, probably, play with our minds, for it is wide open for interpretation. "Herem" features a lot of symbolism through Greek figures (Thalis, Lambros, Frixos) that often interweave with a plant's maturation. "Danis, soften/Unbend now," he warbles through the song. "Cosmos, stretched out like reed." He may hint at a state of romance or life in disrepair—listeners can decide. There is a reference, or perhaps a sequel, to the story previously built on 𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘔𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺. The characters—the narrator and Jason, his muddled friend—are further developed in "Hellbent." "Halfway to Jason's, I think, but don't know," he sings hastily. Ultimately, the most disrupting moment of 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 reveals to be a continuation of the narrator's protracted suffering with inexplicable feelings. I muse over it sometimes, holding on to a possibility of a hidden bond. For me, the songwriting here stirs an intriguing question of whether or not 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 is an expansion of the characters' world—whether the two albums may somehow covertly connect. However truthful the speculation is, Mike's songwriting is still candid and lyrical, teemed with hidden meanings and esoteric references that beckon us to discover.

From a different viewpoint, these songs also often represent queerness, highlighting its beauty and turmoil via Mike's fearless production and language. Even the kittenish, glorious album cover suggests so: closed hands up to display the glittering nails and puckered red lips with quite an expression—a 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘵 moment. At times, 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 celebrates his identity in high spirit: Effervescent, anthemic "Pop Song" and disco-driven "Eye in the Wall" are iridescent and sparkling as a shiny mirrorball. And some, on the contrary, are in despair ("Teeth" and "Photograph"). However, 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 does not mope around these poignant moments. It wraps up on a good note with "Cenote," a heavenly piano piece signifying peace: a liberation. Many will deem 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 a consolation as they relate to its poetry in their own interpretation—a therapeutic engagement even. Isn't that what art is to us sometimes, how it draws a thin connection with our life, abling us to appreciate it from a more befitting vantage point? Mike Hadreas is an eminent artist who has translated his pains into expressive music in its rawest, most sincere form, however cryptic and complex they may be. On 𝘜𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯, he does not shy away from his struggles—he confronts them and delicately tackles them. And in the end, he encourages you to do the same.

(I took longer to write this review than I anticipated, partly because I don't quite know how to express opinions on an album this wild. I tinkered with, well, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 on this review, which you may notice how some parts here are quite messy. I'll probably find a more apt way to write it once I gain more experience with writing. Thank you so much for reading if you make it to the end. I really appreciate it! And please, if you have any thoughts, criticism, or opinions on this album or my review, comment down below! I'd love to hear them! Have a great day!)

Visit the Hall of Musical Elegance, where I list all of my Bloom Bop albums: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/nona/list/50305/hall-of-musical-elegance/