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Monolithic

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1 Project Members
2 Project History
3 Current Status
4 Disocgraphy
5 External Links
6 Related Projects

[edit] Project Members

Micheal Babbitt aka Midihead (1999 - present: vocals, writing, synthesizers)

[edit] Project History

[edit] The Early Years (1986 - 1999)

Synthwiz Micheal Babbitt, who records under the pseudonym midihead, began his career working as a D.J. in 1986. He teamed up with friend Adam Sorenson a decade later to form synth-pop duo Paradigm, which featured a sound similar to The Echoing Green or Cause and Effect. The duo recorded several releases in the latter half of the 90's before splitting in 1999.

[edit] Monolithic Power (1999 - 2001)

midihead almost immediately began the next phase of his career as one-man band Monolithic. The outfit's full-length debut, Power Undiminished, was released the following year on Flaming Fish Music.

The album retained the pop melodies and spiritual themes of Paradigm, but featured more passionate vocals and an edgier sound that sometimes veered into electro and trance territory. Notable songs included the anthemic worship numbers "Arms" and "Window of Faith", the dreamy, midtempo "ballads" "Unchain" and "Redemption" and "Fiber-Optic Rhythm", an uptempo collaboration with fellow synth-popper Neuroactive.

The instrumentals "0406" and "Pradigm Shift" feature a harder, club-friendly vibe. The former track is notable for its use of samples from films "The Matrix" and "The Usual Suspects." A third instrumental, "Ionic", is a swirling, space trance opus reminiscent of Novasphere.

[edit] Dividing Asunder (2002 - 2003)

midihead switched to A Different Drum for the release of his sophomore project, Dividing Asunder. Maxisingles of two tracks from the album, "Lulling Us To Sleep" and "House of Joy" were released a couple months early as teasers. "Lulling Us To Sleep" is a poignant track lamenting the spiritual and moral decline and materialism that have engulfed the US and other weatern nations in recent decades, while "House of Joy" featured a more uptempo vibe and refreshing message about the joys of Christian living. The maxisingles also included remixes of both tracks by artists like Dream Traveler and Monger, as well as bonus tracks like "Speed Demon", a crunchy, industrial rock number.

The most memorable song on Dividing Asunder, however, is "September". As its title suggests, the song is a tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and reminds people not to forget about the terrible tragedy of that day. Its listing on the album immediately after "Lulling Us To Sleep" provides a chilling reminder of how the fall of societies, including Old Testament Israel, the Roman Empire and the French monarchy, were usually preceded by increases in materialism and moral and social decline and asks the question if the U.S. may be headed for a similar fate.

The midtempo "Goodbye (For Now)" is another moving song that reminds listeners that people who die and believe in Jesus will eventually be reunited with one another in Heaven.

[edit] Current Status

midihead is putting the finishing touches on his third (and allegedly last) Monolithic album, Evil Behind Smiling Eyes. Samples on his website of several tracks that will be included on the album feature a harder, electro-industrial vibe than past releases.