Ink Dot Boy

Soft, insidious, dark, a barely-restrained genius. These adjectives come to mind when contemplating the wide breadth of musical ingenuity that Ink Dot Boy employs in the new album, titled "A Beautiful Murder."

The murder isn't nearly as beautiful as the fact that this entire compilation comes from a local Boise musician who not only wrote all the music, but performed, produced and recorded it on his own. Yes, a one-man show is leading what he calls, "the revolution."

Andrew Kurtz used a mixture of electric guitars, piano, drums, bass and MIDI electronics to record the new album, compiling a masterpiece of darkly-haunting music impressing even the most resilient music snob.

"It's a journey into the deepest human desires and why we should indulge in them," Kurtz said.

Taking inspiration from such bands as Nine Inch Nails, Tool and Radiohead, "The Beautiful Murder" loosely falls into the category of alternative industrial.

Ink Dot Boy, however, is not like anything heard before. It takes music to an entirely new level.

"I want the concept to develop into permanence. If I had to describe my music, I would say it is the sound of a revolution," Kurtz said.

Ink Dot Boy embodies this in his depiction of a modern day, slightly-twisted George Washington who beguiles the unsuspecting music critic to fall into the spell of Ink Dot Boy at www.inkdotboy.com.

Free downloads will create the loyal listening army that our newfound, somewhat demonic founding father requires to jumpstart his revolution.

"I want to change the world," Kurtz said.

And the revolution is here.

From the soft, sibilant sounds of "The Arrival," to the roughly demanding (even longing) tone of "Circle," to the other-worldy desires laced in "In Wonderland," to the quietly haunting poetry of "Part of a Memory His," this album brings to mind the elation felt from and appreciation of great works of art.

In "The Fail," Ink Dot Boy incorporates a psychedelically profound arrangement of sound that is quickly flipped about in the following song, "The Nightmare."

The haunting melody of "The Nightmare" touches the emotions of the listener and inspires a sense of awe for the diversity of the artist.

"The Tragedy of Mr. Thadeus Triangle" is more aggressive, using drums to communicate urgency and an electric guitar to imbue the listener with reckless disdain for commonality.

The song the album is titled for, "A Beautiful Murder," indulges in the baser instincts of humanity and incorporates a hypnotic allure that the listener cannot help but fall into.

"Seven Lights to the Sea" closes everything up with a supremely melodic mix of string instruments and static.

Yes, static.

Ink Dot Boy definitely leaves a different taste in the mouth than other genres of music.

Hard, edgy and innovative with a flair of artistic genius, this album leaves a definite possibility for a revolution.

- The Arbiter