Album Review: Mord Fustang – “9999 In 1”

By: Brandon Lorenzetti –

9999 in 1 is the first full-length album from Estonian electronic music producer Mord Fustang. Fustang has had several popular releases that have made the Beatport top 100 chart, including his popular remix of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” and the 2011 mega-hit “Lick The Rainbow” which reached number one. Torontonians may remember him performing at the Digital Dreams 2013 main stage before Tiesto and Wolfgang Gartner.

The album takes the listener on a ride through an 8-bit electro/dubstep adventure; its concept and sounds are heavily influenced by video games, and if it weren’t for all the crazy futuristic wubs and outstanding production quality, most of the album could easily be mistaken for a fantastic retro video game soundtrack. All the synths are beautifully constructed and all of the different sounds presented are full and interesting without being overused. Each song has its own identity and finds a way to stand out regardless of the album’s almost complete lack of vocals. The album has a similar feel and sound to Fustang’s previous releases, using electro house and dubstep elements tied together with flawless synthwork and some occasional bassy low-end. Some might see the similarities to past work as a problem, and that would be true if not for each song’s refreshing take on the sound and high level of energy guaranteed to light up a dance floor. Nothing feels boring or played out.

Some notable releases on the LP include “Drivel,” “Pop (feat. LIINKS)” and the sequel to his 2011 Beatport hit Milky Way, “Milky Way (Pt.2).” “Drivel” sounds like it should be a part of the Super Nintendo racing game F-Zero. It feels incredibly nostalgic but very positive and uplifting. “Pop (feat. LIINKS)” is one of the only songs with simple yet catchy lyrics which refuse to leave the walls of my brain: “I’m gonna make you pop!” The song feels full with lots of bright synths and low end wobbles. “Milky Way (Pt.2)” bears almost no resemblance to its predecessor, trading 128bpm electro house for slow, head-banging wubs. Although on the darker end of the album, Fustang still slips in his upbeat arpeggiating synths.

In a world run on musical trends, it’s refreshing to see someone in EDM doing their own thing and absolutely owning it. Make sure you keep Mord Fustang on your radar, as he will become one of the biggest names in EDM in 2015.

Essential Tracks: “Drivel”, “Pop (feat. LIINKS)”, and “Milky Way (Pt.2)”