By: Joshua Davis

While the rest of us were mustering up the courage to put 2014 behind us during the short months leading up to the New Year, Mord Fustang was busy giving us tastes of his upcoming album titled 9999 in 1. Mord’s new album just dropped via his own label, Magic Trooper, and he’s really poured elements from what he loves into a new take on his normal production to kick off 2015.

The album’s title is quite an adequate adjective when describing the amount of feelings provoked from Mord’s newest installment, especially for those who have dedicated a lot of late nights in front of the ol’ television with a video game console controller in their hands. Mord describes that “70% of his body is made of video games,” and if it wasn’t evident that he had a knack for video games before, it’s audibly explained in 9999 in 1.

Kicking the album off is the opener “1984,” a disco-infused tune that immediately entices you to think of riding down the roads of sunny California in a convertible with an attractive lady wearing roller skates and thigh-high striped socks. Or, if you prefer, enduring a hectic cop chase in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Coming in quickly behind “1984” is “Drivel,” the album’s first single. Cue the classic Mord Fustang energy. This particular track received a lot of love when it was initially released, and it’s obvious as to why. A proper, subtle build up is initiated, but come the 1:20 mark, whether you’re a gamer or not, the perfectly timed synth riffs that give you an uplifting feeling from the depths of your chest hit you, and it drops a groovy beat that really puts a pep in your step and a nudge to clap your hands.

“Pop” simmers your mind out a bit for a nice, optimistic journey, and it has a lot to do Canadian singer-songwriter, Georgia Murray’s, vocals right from the start. Once “Pop” drops, it takes you from that smooth cruising journey into weekend mode.

The real nostalgia comes in saturating levels when “PRESS START!” comes on. Seasoned gamers will be pleased to know that the track holds heavy influence from the timer placed within the aged classics of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter that insists you to press the start button. Just like the aforementioned, it’s full of glitch and grunge.

“Doppelgangbanger” is like a going in to an overwhelming boss battle with minimal health and power-ups. When fighting a big boss battle, the likeliness of being able to assume what will happen is very slim, and it’s a lot like the textures put out from “Doppelganbanger.” You don’t know what you’re going to get, but just like in the games, everything clashes together appropriately.

Paying homage to what can be safely assumed as the sounds emitted from the speakers of a television once a game cartridge has been taken out of the beloved Sega Genesis, “Skyward World” is part space galaxy glide session, part dance floor stomper. Genesis players: once you hear it, you’ll smile.

Continuing the galaxy voyage comes “No Way To Stop” and “Elite Beat Agent,” both powerful, synth packed tunes that suites your car’s stereo and a lonely, winding road.

Leading up to the final track, “Milky Way (Pt. 2)” brings back memories of his 2011 release “Milky Way” but with a whole lot more punch to the face. If you don’t know I mean by the increase in punch, check out the original mix of “Milky Way” first.

To wrap up 9999 in 1 comes “The Morning After The Morning After Pill.” A track that literally wraps everything up, tucks it away, and lets your mind back to its normal semi-tranquil state.

Mord describes 9999 in 1 as “kind of a concept album,” and it’s very evident, considering the heightened influence of his love of video games growing up and how it’s ultimately tipped over into his direction with music production. Originality is hard to find these days, and when you’re able to produce something original, while bridging the gap between video game advocates and electronic music fan alike, it speaks volumes.

Whether you’re a gamer, someone who doesn’t play them often but like Mario or Zelda, or just a flat our electronic music fan, check out 9999 in 1 to simply see how two realms can collide seamlessly when done the correct way.