''Mega'', (stylized MEGA) is the third studio album by Canadian musician and producer
Blank Banshee
Patrick Driscoll (born June 28, 1987), known professionally as Blank Banshee, is a Canadian artist, musician and producer from Saint John, New Brunswick. He rose to popularity in 2012 with his album ''Blank Banshee 0'', which combined traditiona ...
. It was released via
Bandcamp
Bandcamp is an American online audio distribution platform founded in 2007 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with headquarters in Oakland, California, US. On March 2, 2022, Bandcamp ...
on October 10, 2016.
Background and composition
In late 2014 a new project was announced by Blank Banshee via social media.
Tracks from ''MEGA'' began appearing in live sets as early as July 2015.
By late 2016 an untitled song (later ''Frozen Flame'') had appeared on Blank Banshee's official website. A Twitter account associated with Blank Banshee initiated an
ARG style promotional campaign involving an e-mail address that responded to fans via
auto-reply with daily cryptic 'fragments' of a short story concluding on the eve of ''MEGA''’s release. The story ''
'Zero-Day''
', makes reference to several song titles and themes presented on ''MEGA''.
''MEGA'' was composed using an
Akai MPD26
Akai ( ja, 赤井, ) is a Hong Kong manufacturer of consumer electronics. It was founded as Akai Electric Company Ltd in Tokyo, Japan, in 1946. Grande Holdings in Hong Kong purchased the Akai brand, and now distributes various electronic produ ...
and live instrumentation. It has been described as a “balance of abstract ambience and dance-able trap”. A continuation and expansion of Blank Banshee's signature sound, it is considerably more experimental, relying less on samples than its precursors.
In a 2016 interview, Driscoll spoke of the link between his music and ‘virtual environments’, comparing his writing approach to that of 90's
RPG music composers.
The album artwork was designed by Blank Banshee and features a 3D model of a
meteor
A meteoroid () is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space.
Meteoroids are defined as objects significantly smaller than asteroids, ranging in size from grains to objects up to a meter wide. Objects smaller than this are classified as micr ...
layered over a fuchsia gradient background.
''MEGA'' was produced, recorded and mastered in Vancouver, Canada.
Promotion and release
In the spring of 2017, Blank Banshee embarked on The MEGA Tour, a 3 leg tour spanning Canada, Europe and America concluding in autumn of 2017.
''MEGA'' has been released on Cassette Tape, Compact Disc, Vinyl and USB Flash Drive independently through the online store Hologram Bay.
Reception
In an article posted after the release of ''MEGA,'' ''The Fader'' makes note of Blank Banshee's cult following.
''MEGA's'' “fragmented-yet-soulful vaportrap bridges the yawning chasm between itself and ''
Blank Banshee 1
Blank Banshee 1 is the second studio album by Canadian musician and producer Blank Banshee. It was released as a free digital download via Bandcamp on October 20, 2013.
Background and composition
Production for ''Blank Banshee 1'' began in late 2 ...
''" notes Bandcamp daily.
Online publication Pigeons and Planes called the album Blank Banshee's “best project yet”, praising its inventive use of samples and distinct textures.
Track listing
Adapted from official liner notes.
Notes
*"My Machine", "Gunshots", "XENOS", and "Hungry Ghost" feature vocals and voice by Cormorant.
*"Web Ring" features vocals by Jaya.
References
{{Authority control
Vaporwave albums
2016 albums
Blank Banshee albums