Portland-based electronic veteran Matthew Arnold, better known as Mr. Projectile, delivers a striking two-track mini-album with Fire Pink, a self-released digital-only effort that once again demonstrates his mastery of experimental electronic music. Over decades of releasing on labels such as Toytronic, Merck, Studio K7, N5MD, and the producer’s own Semisexual label, Mr. Projectile has developed a sound that is simultaneously playful, cerebral, dark, unpredictable, and emotionally charged—and these two tracks continue that legacy without missing a beat.
The album opens with I Don’t Remember Making This, and greets us with waves of airy synths, modulated noise, groaning bassoon-like bass synths, and a wealth of otherworldly sound design oddities. Slowly, the piece takes shape around stuttering IDM drums with the expected clicks, pops, stutters and slow-mo kicks. This all goes down in a chaotic paradise, and keeps the track grounded while leaving room for more experimental textures to bubble mysteriously at the back of the class. At moments, the strange groaning string-synths break forward, commanding attention before fading back into the complex sonic tapestry. Eventually the track shifts into a more complex, hip-hop-infused percussion adorned with layers of clicks, bleeps, and glitched embellishments, all while synths scream like the haunted offspring of a brain dance fever dream. The result is both thrilling and meticulously composed, a testament to Mr. Projectile’s enduring craft.
The mini-album’s title track, Fire Pink, continues the journey with synths like vector rays slicing through deep space followed by bone-crushing, syncopated drums. Growling bass and heavily modulated synth leads carry the listener into a world where the rules of sonic physics seem suspended. Though shorter than the opener, the track’s intense design and compositional precision make it every bit as impactful, reinforcing the album’s sense of focused experimentation. Perhaps more melodic than the album opener, there are distinct similarities making these tracks work well together.
Fire Pink has a darker-than-before, somewhat aggressive edge to it. It hits a different pace for Arnold and closes as a concentrated dose of experimental sonic brilliance. Across both tracks, Mr. Projectile demonstrates that after more than 20 years in the game with a storied career that includes ten full-length albums on a list of respected labels, his creative vision remains as potent as ever. From unearthly atmospheres to meticulously programmed drums, this mini-album is a compact but unforgettable reminder that Mr. Projectile remains a talent to keep track of.
Fire Pink by Mr. Projectile was released 4 September, 2025
