Electro psych-rock trio Master Control Project (MCP) have dropped their debut album After Midnight, hitting listeners just in time for Halloween on 31 October.
The 80s-inspired release showcases a unique blend of progressive drum and bass layered with synth, saxophone, flute, and guitar, offering fans a complex soundscape that has been described as a “soundtrack of proggy complex drum and bass.” After Midnight follows MCP’s self-titled EP and comes packaged with an immersive 3D experience, including a 24-page graphic novel and glow-in-the-dark merchandise.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The album includes eight tracks, each crafted as a themed experience, with samples enhancing the narrative of each song. Synth player James McKenna explains, “We tried to approach each track as if it were a short film or movie rather than writing in a traditional verse-chorus style. It gave us the freedom to really expand on what we did with the EP, and everyone’s really happy with the end result.” Bass player Wesley von Grabill adds, “After Midnight is a play on the Gremlins movie – what happens if you feed the Mogwai after 12. Shit gets crazy, and we wanted this album to be very energetic and dramatic and feel like a bit of chaos.”
The accompanying graphic novel, written by von Grabill and illustrated by Blue Mountains-based artist Ben Toupein, includes 3D glasses to enhance one side of a double-sided poster. This visual addition brings an extra dimension to the album’s 80s theme, allowing fans to immerse themselves fully in the album’s imaginative world. The album artwork was designed by Hudd Williams, with a style inspired by psych-beach rock records of the 60s.
The album’s full lineup features Preston Peachey on drums, von Grabill on bass, McKenna on synth, David Bleus on guitar, Marty Farrugia on trumpet, and Dr. David Salisbury on saxophone, flute, and clarinet. Final mixing and editing were handled by Nicolas Mendoza at 301 Studios, while mastering was completed by Harbey O’Sullivan at the same studio.
In addition to the album and graphic novel, MCP has released a limited edition glow-in-the-dark T-shirt, with the design taken from the graphic novel. Fans can find this exclusive merchandise on Merchfan at merchfan.co/collections/mcp/products/mcp-glow-in-the-dark-t-shirt.
For more information on MCP and After Midnight, visit mcptheband.com or reach out to the band directly at [email protected].
