Error Operator: Mistakes
Words: Gareth O’Malley
There’s something rather eye-catching about that artwork, isn’t there? It’s probably one of the best covers I’ve seen all year, probably because it does such a good job describing the music within.
Error Operator’s ‘Mistakes’ is a superbly crafted slice of ambient electronica that also takes influence from post-rock and even, at times, dubstep.
The man’s way with a melody is something that will draw in even the most cautious of listeners, as evinced on ‘Introduction’ and lead single ‘Follow’ (the latter of which, incidentally uses part of the same sample featured on Maybeshewill’s ‘Not For Want of Trying’).
Speaking of samples, quite a lot of them crop up here, and are used to great effect most of the time (a particular example being Dwight Eisenhower’s D-Day speech on ‘Mistakes MK3’). Soundscapes are constructed that more often than not succeed at tugging at heartstrings, as ‘Miller’ shows - made all the more effective when set against a portion of an eviscerating tirade about New York.
There are vocal contributions, too: Jane Elizabeth Hanley lends her voice to early highlight ‘Broken’, whilst Grizzle Emcee manages to marry his staccato rapping with the affecting drama of ‘Powerlines’, resulting in the record’s standout track. Bright Light Bright Light chips in on ‘July’, a song which misses its mark somewhat - though it is simply not as good as either song sitting beside it, ‘Mistakes MK3’ or ‘Maison’.
The tracklisting isn’t exactly perfect, as the above sample illustrates, but it doesn’t have a detrimental effect on ‘Mistakes’. It can’t be said that many of those are made on the album. It’s a very promising start, while at the same time showing that with a little refinement it could have been even better. Maybe next time.
7.6
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