By Keith Walsh
With the myriad of electronic sound sources available –from analog synthesis to digital software synths, to loops and found sounds, it’s no wonder that synth pop artists can become restless, moving from style to style. Such is the case with George Bolton of The Screaming Pope. His experimental approach, informed by training in music and visual arts, finds him working with loops – both found, and his own creations.
For his new release Accomplished Mugician Bolton told me: “I was trying to have a different style than my previous releases.” At turns tranquil, dramatic, and humorous, Accomplished Mugician features skillful orchestration of sounds across 11 tracks. The esoteric nature of the set is suggested by the album artwork, a bizarre image created by artificial intelligence. “I altered the image slightly and added text,” says Bolton. ”This one was done using Wonder AI, though I also use other ones.”
Tunes like the “Lovely Ocean,” “Accomplished Mugician” and “Time and Tide” are somewhat ambient, while “Hopes and Aspirations,” Chimps In Space,” and “California Take Me Away” have more of a pop radio feel, although with an experimental bent. Across the entire album there’s a film soundtrack sensibility, with “Sandstorm” and “Journey To The Stars” being as evocative as their suggestive titles. There’s some fascinating vocal effects, particularly on “Existential Crisis #56” and “Rounder And Rounder.”
Arthur C. Clarke
I asked if “Sandstorm’ might have been inspired by the 2021 film version of Dune. Bolton tells me: “No, I have a good friend in the Emirates, and it inspired me to explore Middle Eastern Themes and maybe a little past life connection to it.” This mystical approach informs the album, and indeed Bolton’s way of working. I told him that the album reminds me of the well-known quote by Arthur C. Clarke — any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic – and his reaction confirmed my hunches.
Bolton tells me: “I like Arthur C. Clarke by the way. Your quote is something I meditate on periodically. I had a friend who was a DJ/Musician from Britain that used to call me a ‘Mugician’, and that was the inspiration for the title, as well as the phrase ‘Accomplished Musician’, obviously.”
Accomplished Mugician gives a very dramatic impression, alternating between rich soundscapes and humor, with Bolton contributing amusing vocalizations to “Chimps In Space” (he portrays Dr. Louis Leakey, and “California Take Me Away,” in which he plays a carpetbagging American. That song breaks up the tension between “Sandstorm” and Journey To The Stars,” and as Bolton explains: “That was intentional. This album is a little heavy and it needed some comic relief. Also, some more of my voice impressions.”
As he is quite adept at using the studio as an instrument, Bolton’s propensity for composing using loops and libraries in flawless. Turn out that selecting samples and loops is an art form in itself. “Most of the vocal work that isn’t me is from various libraries,” Bolton says. ”I’m very selective, though. I make sure the theme, lyrics and general aesthetic matches something I would do as closely as possible, and also the general ideas behind the album as a whole”
From his studio in Boston, Bolton uses Big Knob Studio by Mackie along with an SSL Six Mixer and Logic and his iMac, controlling things with an Akai Advance 49. A shot of his studio shows analog gear including a Behringer Neutron, a Behringer Arp 2600 clone, and a Korg Minilogue. Bolton tells me they’re bound to show up on recordings soon. “I will probably be using more of my unusual organic instrument collection in the future as I have in the past.”
The Screaming Pope “Jacob’s Ladder” Interview On Synthbeat
The Screaming Pope On Spotify
George Bolton On Soundcloud
The Screaming Pope On Youtube
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