For those unaware, the first Unquiet Music Ltd album, 2020’s In the Name of... (A Prayer for Our Times) was an exploration of verticality and the arrow of time throughout a man’s life; or through mankind’s history.

While in some respects MEMEmusic does act as a continuation of its predecessor, both in ideas and concept, it features a different approach and theme. Whereas In the Name of... was vertical, MEMEmusic is, in comparison, rather horizontal; and deals predominantly with communication and the notion of the individual.

Reflecting on human interaction, and on how this has changed due to significant global changes and challenges over the past three years, it is firmly music for its time.

The musical journey is divided in two parts, with the first half of the album being more industrial and electronic while the second turns towards live acoustic performances and to romantic and entertaining songs.

The central theme of MEMEmusic is the re-discovery of language - not the only tool with which we can connect to other people, but obviously one of the best - and to realize we are unique individuals precisely because differences exist.

At the same time this profound but simple idea is delivered predominantly via music, which allows the listener to wander into their own universe without the weight of any message if they so wish.

The cover and booklet also reflect the welcoming of diversity with their collaged images from photographs and paintings, plus AI techniques generated by Swiss multi-media artist Tobias Reber and comic book drawings and characters created by Denis Rodier (Marvel, DC, Milestone Media).

“Warning: Save your psyche and stay away from this highly disorienting sequence of nerve-rewiring pieces.” » Trey Gunn (King Crimson, David Sylvian) on listening to MEMEmusic.

1. Meme (9:16)
2. I Succumb (7:24)
3. Towards The Edge (9:36)
4. Lament (9:35)(br> 5. Commuting Communion (8:56)
6. Sometimes Love (9:52)
7. I Do Remember The Feeling (9:41)
8. Nemo Point (6:21)
9. Music (Is The Way Out) (3:34)
10. Tom’s Wrong (3:36) [BONUS TRACK]

More accessible and reflective than In the Name of…, this highly creative, melodically-hued, atmospherically-empowered new conceptual recording opens on the near ten minute, musical amalgamation opus MEME and then some shimmeringly-shattering sounds welcome us into rhythmically pop, avant-garde-hued I Succumb, which is in turn followed by the Asian-hued, melodically harmonized, yet streaked with jauntingly industrial streaks Towards The Edge, and then we get a sense of higher power is embedded within the veritably tantalizing soundscape within the near ten minute Lament.

Along next is the drum-led oeuvre Commuting Communion and the hauntingly ethereal, near ten minute, symphonically beautiful Sometimes Love (where I could swear, that even though I listen to it on CD, I could still hear the quiet pop and crackle of a vinyl playing), and then we get the stridently mellifluous, near ten minute I Do Remember The Feeling, the album rounding out on the Chapman Stick-imbibed lead into the latterly flourishing Nemo Point, the whole experience coming to a close on the layered vocals, harmonized echoes within the assiduously encompassing Music (Is The Way Out), and the synth-enriched, darkly-hushed sung tones invoked within the brilliant CD bonus track Tom’s Wrong.

While based around Rossi’s own vocal, keyboard and electronics work, MEMEmusic benefits from the participation of many talented international musicians.

Continuing their work with the project alongside Rossi and Reuter are Frédéric L’Épée (Yang, Shylock, Philharmonie), Samira Brahmia, Raphaël Terreau, Khliff Miziallaoua, while the new album also welcomes fresh Unquiet Music contributors Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Stick Men), Jon Poole (Cardiacs, Lifesigns, The Dowling Poole and The Wildhearts), Adrian Benavides (Earthdiver), Troy Jones and Thommy Lowry.

Work in progress: a variation for I succumb, from the new album MEMEmusic [Official Video]

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