applied communications has a midlife crisis

applied communications has a midlife crisis, five-track EP by Max Wood under the alias Applied Communications (April 26, 2024). Washington, D.C. · Spotify. A comeback 17 years in the making (V13): TikTok-era rediscovery of the old catalog pulled Max Wood back while navigating depression, gender dysphoria, and self-acceptance.

The early run — Africa Baby, Yeah Yeah Yeah (2004), Uhhh Sort Of (2005), was lo-fi anti-rock: discordant vocals, found sounds, basement-pop computer collage. Pitchfork read Uhhh Sort Of as emotionally exposed but famously abrasive (also on the 15 worst of 2005 list), polarizing teen outsider-pop later re-found. Bandcamp still tags the project “noisy screamy mostly electronic pop music.”

This EP is more beat-driven and accessible (Chorus.fm: Casio, drum machines, random electronic elements, discordant melodies, key changes) but still deeply personal: samples, nonbinary identity, mental-health narrative, Emperor X on the closer.

Mixed by Luke Francis Walton (Scoobert Doobert); mastered by Riley Knapp (Rosie Tucker, Lou Roy). English-language press naming both: V13, Northern Transmissions, It’s Psychedelic Baby, SF Shameless. Also: Backseat Mafia premiere of Sinéad.

Luke did not write these lyrics: mixing credit only (not produce). Track pages document the mix; later Applied Communications singles on Bandcamp postdate this EP.

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