Cranium Fortress is the moniker of a Washington, D.C.”“based musician who creates rhythmically enticing instrumental music that skirts the border between abstract electronics and pop-minded songcraft. The track “Organ Furnace” off Cranium’s recent self-titled collection, self-released last month at bandcamp.com, typifies the approach. There’s an undeniable sense of forward motion, if not of outright melodic activity. The overall effect is more than sufficient to solidify the track’s general-listener approachability. But the subtlety is rewarding as well, the way the initial organ sound slowly accrues in layers before coalescing into a steady backing element — and how the percussion arrives, coming in as if from behind, soft but steady in a manner that brings to mind the band Low.
Get the full album for free download at craniumfortress.bandcamp.com. More tracks at soundcloud.com/craniumfortress.
Listening now. Reminds me a little of some krautrock stuff, like Cluster with an 8-bit sensibility.