From the first tympanum-tapping moments to the fadeout of the celestial rattlesnake that winds its way through Russell Duke’s “Misophonia,” I find myself struggling to identify exactly what I’m hearing. At more than twice the length of the standard pop song (or is that now a non-standard metric?) and moving along on rumbling bass tones and rapid chuffing, “Misophonia” allows plenty of time to act, react, and attempt to make sense of one’s surroundings. Before I can say, “several models of small shiny mecha gathered together in a god factory and moving with the clicks,” the bass tone has dropped away (or moved into a register lower than my ability to discern) and I can say that I’m feeling some dread . . .
. . . which is fitting: the word “misophonia” is a compound of the Greek words for “hate” and “voice.” Google it and you’ll see that it’s consider an anxiety-related disorder by WebMD but is not recognized as such in the DSM-IV, that there are no solid causes or proven treatments, and that there have been no studies to investigate its prevalence by age, ethnicity, or gender. That’s all well and good, but the more pressing questions in this context would be, “is it music? And, if so, is it good?”
Answering questions like that is what I’m here for. Short version: yes and yes. Long version: what is music? What is good? Duke’s “Misophonia,” audibly disorienting as it is at times, is evocative of mood and emotion. Though scattered in structure, it possesses a continual meter, if you will, and has tones arranged to approximate a melody or motif after its halfway point. It’s more musical than most machinery I’ve operated or worked near in my lifetime, and I would attest that the sounds and rhythms produced by said equipment have, at times, been some of my favorite music.
As to why Duke’s composition should be considered “good” by every listener who encounters it: “Misophonia” delivers on its titular mission statement. For those who prefer their music poppy, trite, and easy on the intellect, there will be much to hate with these 8.5 minutes. For those who dwell in the crushingly abrasive sound-world of nu-metal and grindcore, this work may also cause strong and terrible grievance. And for everybody in between—especially those who like their tunes challenging and well off the beaten path—“Misophonia” will bring the dread, the anxiety, maybe even the full-on panic. Looks like I’ve identified what I’m hearing. What are you hearing?