Trackology

The basic conceptual approach of the Empath's 2015 release was a semi scientific exploration about the musical capability of more than three thousand units of software synthesizers, effects and plug-ins he collected in years - a process of testing, utilization and selection. During this drawn-out process, first aural drafts for album tracks occurred besides single soundscapes, loops and effects which were furthermore processed and embedded into Mike Erkau's regular workflow environment. While elaborating the final tracks he incorporated topics which appeared in his perception to form a perfect symbiosis of sound and subject. Trackology represents the most varied album by the Empath so far, where the music serves as a carrier of artistic points of view - a wide spectrum that ranges from negative to positive topics. An individual's powerlessness, vague discomfort caused by heteronomy, political disillusion, but also personal advancement following the aspect of gaining experience - just to name few points - are transferred by a vast number of styles and sounds.