If you are a music enthusiast with and weird enough, you might someday find documenting yourself about minimalism as a musical style. What could be more intriguing than examining a genre defined by the mantra “Less is more”? In my own research, one of the most beguiling aspects of minimalism is its pursuit of a trance-like, mystical experience through stasis. Yet, I personally find it challenging to achieve such a state with simplistic music. My most profound musical epiphanies have emerged from the organic yet intricate compositions of Toru Takemitsu, the meticulously constructed works of Dai Fujikura, or the symmetric complexity of Messiaen’s rhythms and harmonies. However, today's focus, Toe with his newest release “Now i see the light”, stands as a notable exception to this perception on minimalism..

To be clear, I do not classify Toe as minimalist in the strictest sense; their tracks are brimming with content. Nevertheless, their use of overwhelming ping-pong motifs, off-kilter rhythms, and polyrhythms, arranged in bigger and elegant thematic sequences that repeats over and over and evolve subtly over time, exemplifies a form of “nested” minimalism. This approach renders the complexities of math-rock remarkably accessible, showcasing a modest demeanor from the artists.

This minimalist approach extends beyond their music. Toe’s latest album arrives with minimal media coverage and self-promotion, as if they trust in the gravitational pull of the music itself to draw listeners in. Such an approach, I believe, reflects a deep respect for the audience, presenting complex music in an elegant package while eschewing intrusive marketing preconceptions. This is quite contrary to other marketing strategies, such as that of Jacob Collier, who is often marketed as a musical genius, with his music presentations being overly complicated even for simple pop songs. I am not saying this is a bad strategy, but Jacob's audience is different, often attracting other musicians and geeks. Toe’s packaging is more friendly to casual listeners but doesn’t exclude musicians and music aficionados like you, my dear reader.

This consideration for the listener can also be seen in the curation of the tracklist itself. It is arranged in an interesting way that facilitates active listening to the whole album in a single sitting. Additionally, it alternates between instrumental tracks and songs, ensuring the album never feels monotonous.

There are other less obvious elements that feel so ingenious. For example, in the track “街のどこかで” (Somewhere in the City), the song is mixed in a way that is, in most cases, considered bad audio engineering practice: panning the whole drum set to one side and the bass to the other. Since the drum set and the bass often work together to establish the rhythm and groove, it is generally good practice to pan them to the center. This is a golden rule in rock and, more importantly, in math rock where rhythm and groove are complex and experience sudden shifts. However, in this song, somehow they managed to make it sound good, funny, and clear.

Another beloved feature of the album, and I need to mention it, is the incorporation of the track “ニーボーイ・ラプソディ” (SONNY BOY RHAPSODY), which comes from the genius OST of the animation series “Sonny Boy.” This song appeared in the gorgeous last scene of the anime, and I have been waiting a long time for Toe to include this track on streaming services. I suppose this will also allow fans of the series to discover this album, and hopefully, this genius band will gain more well-deserved fans.

For these reasons and the album's refined presentation, I contend that this release is not just for math-rock aficionados but also an ideal introduction to the genre. The album is delicate, elegant, and immensely enjoyable. While some critics may eschew complexity in music, Toe’s work exemplifies how intricacy can be universally appealing. Their intelligent complexity offers myriad focal points for the listener, making it easy to shift perspectives and engage deeply with the music.

You can find more information about the artist and his albums on their Official website. Additionally, you can directly support the artist by ordering his new album, "Now I see the light," in their Bandcamp.

Tracklist:

1 風と記憶 (THE WIND AND RECOLLECTIONS) 

2 LONELINESS WILL SHINE 

3 TODO Y NADA 

4 街のどこかで (SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY) 

5 WHO KNOWS ? 

6 CLOSE TO YOU 

7 キアロスクーロ (CHIAROSCURO) 

8 サニーボーイ・ラプソディ (SONNY BOY RHAPSODY)

9 MADNESS SUMMER 

10 NOW I SEE THE LIGHT 

Author: Martín Cacho

Martín is a video game composer, producer and writer from Sonora, México.