Montreal’s MINDREADER, a four-piece outfit brewing since summer 2023, is gearing up to unleash their debut EP, “Cope With Me,” on May 10th.
Valerie Kirkwell, Edward Scrimger, Bryan Greenfield, and Alexandre Duguay aren’t afraid to wear their influences on their sleeve. Think John Carpenter soundtracks mashed with modern electronica, all dipped in a touch of goth for good measure.
“Cope With Me” is a five-song journey that tackles the darker side of things – loss, despair, but with a glimmer of empowerment shining through. The opening track, “The Kill,” grabs you by the throat with its throbbing bassline and relentless rhythm. It weaves a captivating melody over a moody soundscape – a signature move that seems to be MINDREADER’s calling card.
The EP takes some interesting turns. “Leviathan” builds to a heady, almost chaotic climax before melting back into the shadows, while “Parasite” throws a curveball with a deceptively quiet intro that explodes into a full-on dancefloor anthem.
The middle track, “Soft Pull,” is where things get interesting. Here, MINDREADER ditches the well-worn synth-pop formula and throws in some unexpected sounds and textures. It shows they’re not afraid to experiment while still keeping their sound cohesive.
The closing track, “Outsider,” leaves a lingering aftertaste. Hypnotic and industrial, it’s a perfectly unsettling way to end the EP, leaving you wanting more.
“Cope With Me” is a strong debut that marks MINDREADER as a band to watch. Their ability to craft danceable music with dark themes and willingness to push boundaries suggests they’re poised to carve out a niche in the world of synth-pop.
