Mikey Young is a well-known figure to those who like to peruse the credits of many an exciting album by an Australian band, though his mastering skills have become in demand for bands from further-flung locales too. He's also a bit of a legend for his stints in the reductive punk noise band
Eddy Current Suppression Ring and the more experimental
Total Control.
You Feelin' Me? is a collection of home-recorded synth and guitar instrumental tracks done between 2013 and 2017 that showcase a musical mind that's not content to fit into any one style or mood. Unlike his 2017 album Your Move, which was a cohesive package, this set jumps around from sparsely experimental tracks ("Raga for Vacuum and Dishes") to bubbling synth pop with
Fripp-like guitar solos ("Back to the Centre"), with stops along the way for synth-prog freak-outs ("This..."), skronky guitar exploration ("Freedom '13"), and lots of lovely ambient tunes that show off his knowledge and love of the classic German bands of the '70s. The title track is a relaxed, sparkling delight, "Billions of Tears" builds layers of synths into a warm wave of sound, and "Parker" is a late-night cinematic dream that glows like dirty neon.
Young shows a mastery of synths, moods, and melody throughout the album that's impressive; it's not a stretch to say
You Feelin' Me? scratches the same richly atmospheric, harmoniously melodic instrumental itch of some of
Brian Eno's classic work like
Another Green World. This is a fine collection that should prove once and for all that
Young is much more than a cool name to drop or a first-call mastering wizard; he is a compelling artist in his own right. ~ Tim Sendra