Max Rael - The Enemy Is Us
British electronic artist Max Rael presents his debut solo album 'The Enemy Is Us', released via London imprint Liquid Len Media, offering up a dark bouquet of minimalist synth, darkwave and spoken-word electronic pop. The album introduces Rael’s compelling ‘futuretroist’ sound: an alternative sonic universe built on a unique sound design that feels at once familiar and alien.
Max Rael is a key creative force in the UK underground through electro-goth trailblazers History Of Guns, frontrunners of the early 2000s Wasp Factory / FuturePunk scene, and Decommissioned Forests. Here, he showcases his singular talents on this record, featuring unique twists on sound design and his acclaimed outsider lyrical perspectives. Formed in Hertfordshire in 1996, their single 'Your Obedient Servants', penned by Max Rael, was championed by The Quietus and Mick Mercer among the “thirty best goth singles of all time”. Musician, writer, actor, engineer and producer, Max Rael has collaborated with Fish (Marillion), Last July, Kommand + Kontrol, Freudstein and Bienheldenschafgegenstand.
Rael's powerful and thought-provoking spoken-word lyrics confronts a world in freefall—its corruption, alienation, and misery. The result seemingly effortlessly conflates a painfully personal portrait of an interior world, with an achingly universal depiction of society and the world outside. He still unearths a resilient core of hope and gallows humour that burns brightly through the darkness, offering a complex and compelling take on the human condition.
"Musically, this album was a long time coming. I was a lyricist who couldn't sing, and that frustration meant some of these tracks began life as instrumentals. The turning point was being recruited by Decommissioned Forests to contribute vocals; that experience gave me the confidence to finally complete my solo work. I could finally voice my own words through spoken word, leaving the melody to be carried entirely by the music. This approach, combined with my usual layered and loud drum style, became a core part of the sound. I wanted to create a sound that felt both nostalgic and from a future we never had," says Max Rael.
"Thematically, it’s my way of processing a world, and a sense of self, that feels incredibly precarious. I’m exploring loss and longing, the anger, confusion, and hatred, but also joy, love, hope, and the absurd humour that keeps so many of us going. The title comes from an old 'Pogo' cartoon strip, but for me, it applies on multiple levels—both personal and global."
Earlier, Max Rael released the poignant shadow-streaked single 'Slightly Less Than Human', a nervy electronic track with a great hooky synth melody and spoken word vocals. Partly inspired by Japanese author Osamu Dazai. Lyrically, Max Rael relays his feeling of being somehow different from the rest of the human race, while the non-album B-side 'When the Only Winning Move Is Not to Play' relates to the 1983 film "War Games" and the book 'The Games People Play' by Eric Berne.
In April, Max Rael shared his spoken-word electronic pop song 'Brighter Future', where he questions avoidant strategies of coping with life in a seemingly increasingly chaotic and unsafe world and queries how can we reverse course from an anticipated dystopian future. The B-side 'The People We Love Have Won (Persistence Is All)' is a darker beast, named after Coil's 2000 London performance at The Royal Festival Hall, which also happens to be tattooed on the inside of Rael's left wrist.
Spoken word, electronic music and loud drums can all be expected on the impending 12-track album, produced and mixed by Max Rael with additional mixing by Caden Clarkson and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Nick Cave, Depeche Mode, Pixies. Nine Inch Nails). Fusing a range of electronic music styles with other genres, Max Rael is a master journeyman of existential exploration into humanity, self, society, reality, psychology, philosophy and the future.
As of June 20, 'The Enemy Is Us' is available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, and Bandcamp.
