Music mogul releases atmospheric solo debut

Eve Harrington

 

Cork-based Mark Waldron-Hyden of the neo-psychedelic band The Sunshine Factory recently released his first full length solo album ‘Stream Segregation’ through his independent music label, Sunshine Cult Records, which he founded alongside his fellow bandmates.

Having previously teased audiences with one track, Mark finally presented his complete nine track creation to the world in late July - all of which he has written, recorded and produced himself.

Mark’s sound uses a mixture of field recordings, acoustic instruments, synthesizers and tape machines to create these highly atmospheric tunes. 'Stream Segregation' deals with repetition, space and its effect on the human body.

This is evident within each track as they, while being distinctive in their own right, combine to evoke a full body experience beginning with the hallucinogenic pulse of drones and gradually melting in the grittier, distorted psychedelic sounds. Indeed, Mark has successfully managed to embody a fully realized aural acid trip across this kaleidoscopic soundscape.

Mark has expressed that he wanted the album to be “heavily influenced by drone and repetition while still using vocals, but more for texture (rather) than for hooks” typical of most pop songs.

He has definitely hit the nail on the head with this one as confirmed by the stream of positive feedback such as an article by The Thin Air, a website and magazine dedicated to contemporary Irish music, who praised Mark for achieving such “cosmic and experimental” sounds.

Mark’s solo debut has shed some light on Cork’s underground but nonetheless prevalent psychedelic music scene.

The album is available to stream or buy on his label’s Bandcamp and Soundcloud. See sunshinecultrecords.bandcamp.com/music for more details and information.