Scott Avery Takes Us to the Dark Side of Mars in New EP
The three-track vinyl EP is out now.
Sweat dripping, bodies jostling like sloshed drinks, the familiar red light of CCTV surveillance drowned by flashing lights — for many, this is a familiar feeling awakened by the warmer days and lighter evenings. For Scott Avery, this is the encapsulated feeling of the Dark Side of Mars. On this three-track vinyl EP, Avery’s finger is on the pulse of technology, Black history, and the diasporic grooves of soundscaping.
In Avery’s second EP, Dark Side of Mars takes us through MK2680, a fictional hybrid world home to martians, humans, and androids. It lies between Earth and Mars in year 3000. As a young historian traveling through time and space, he searches for ancient African music traditions. The time machine malfunctions and lands on Earth in Detroit in 1992. Techno doesn’t exist yet, and MK2680 assures its grittiness and raw sound take up space in the universe.
On “The Horizon,” Avery fuses the beats of African drums with a clear bass and modified vocals. It feels its own composition of intergalactic travel and the sonic fluidity of house rhythms. It is both out of this world and entirely familiar. Listeners are encouraged to let loose, get comfortable, and have some fun! “The Horizon” could easily be its own coveted CD mix, a time capsule of the era it explores.
Photos by James Adams
This sense of familiarity continues on the titular track, “Dark Side of Mars,” which feels like the sweet spot of a perfect night out. It's a track that pays homage to the techno roots in Detroit, a city that birthed a genre, and its space in African American history. “Dark Side of Mars” calls to mind the duality of time — as much as there are Black People in the Future, there are also Black people in the past and the present as connectors in the halls of time.
“Dark Matter” presents an entirely new sonic experience. The track is compelling, drawing listeners out to the dance floor unaware of the song’s path. Minute by minute, the track bends in its own direction, ebbing and flowing, tethering listeners along.
Dark Side of Mars presents listeners with a unique and compelling sonic experience. It’s an upper that can be served inside or outside, in a group setting, or as a solo adventure. The album's tracks, each with their own distinct personality, take listeners on a journey through time and sound, offering a musical experience that is both exhilarating and thought-provoking.
You can stream and buy the album on Bandcamp now.
