Mute Math

That huge celebration you hear? That’s the sound of Mute Math fans across the world finally getting to listen to new Mute Math music. But there is both good news and bad news here. The bad news: the entire EP consists of three songs and one remix. Clocking in at just under 16 minutes, it is heartbreakingly short. The good news: this EP is merely a teaser for the band’s next full-length release, currently slated for a June 2009 release. And the best news: if the full-length release is anything like the EP, Mute Math doesn’t disappoint in the least.

“Spotlight,” a song that might already be familiar to fans from the Twilight soundtrack, begins with a ethereal electronic pad, then morphs into a high-energy guitar-driven look at what the spotlight can do to people, singing “You got a whole lot left to say now / You knocked all your wind out / You just tried too hard and you froze.” The song encourages those that are under the spotlight’s glare to just “Take a fall,” encouraging them that, “You’re one of us.” It is a spot-on (no pun intended) look at the current celebrity culture, where we all anxiously await the next celebrity meltdown instead of creating a culture where people are allowed to fail.

“Clockwork” takes a look at the speeding passage of time, and points out how we shouldn’t put things off. Even though “I know we’d rather sort it out once tomorrow comes… tomorrow already happened.” It’s an encouraging song, reminding us to say everything that needs to be said today, and to make the most of love today. Mute Math pushes their music even further in this song, delving into a little bit of spoken word lyrics rather than simply singing. It’s a bit of a shock, but it’s done well.

“Earlylight” is the last of the three new songs, and the only one with no lyrics. It’s an incredible piece of sonic artistry. Bringing in themes from both “Spotlight” and “Clockwork,” it effortlessly brings them together. This is the song that happens when you let Mute Math just lets loose.

The Son Lux remix of “Spotlight” is a bit messy, however. It opens, relying on a keyboard and driving drum beat, but the great lyrics of the chorus nearly disappear behind the chaotic accompaniment. It seems a strange choice to end the EP.

I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting the new album in June.

Tagged as: Mute Math, The Spotlight EP

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