With Hidden Noise: A Haunting Ode to the End Times in "Mayday"
In a world that often feels like it’s teetering on the edge, With Hidden Noise, the solo project of multi-talented artist Charlie Berger, returns with a deeply evocative and hauntingly beautiful album titled Mayday. Released on January 31, 2025, the record is a poignant exploration of isolation, loss, and the fragile hope that lingers even in the face of annihilation.
Mayday tells the story of a lonely old musician, perhaps the last soul on Earth, broadcasting his humble songs into the void via shortwave radio. His transmissions are a desperate attempt to connect with anyone who might still be out there, a plea for companionship in a world where all he once loved has vanished. The album’s narrative is intimate both and universal, capturing the essence of human vulnerability in the shadow of apocalypse.
Berger, who single-handedly crafted every aspect of the album—writing, performance, recording, production, artwork, photography, and design—delivers a masterclass in emotional storytelling. The music itself is a lush tapestry of downtempo dream pop, experimental lo-fi, and shoegaze, blending ethereal melodies with gritty, raw textures. Each track feels like a fragile signal cutting through static, a fleeting moment of beauty amidst chaos.
The album’s sonic landscape is both expansive and claustrophobic, mirroring the protagonist’s isolation. Layers of reverb-drenched guitars, haunting synths, and Berger’s whispered vocals create an atmosphere that is simultaneously melancholic and comforting. It’s as if the music itself is a lifeline, a reminder that even in the darkest times, art can provide solace.
Mastered by the renowned Michael Briggs, Mayday achieves a delicate balance between lo-fi intimacy and cinematic grandeur. The production is meticulous, with every crackle and hum of the imagined radio broadcasts adding to the album’s immersive quality. It’s a record that demands to be listened to with full attention, each listen revealing new layers of meaning and emotion.
Thematically, Mayday raises profound questions about connection, legacy, and the human condition. Is anyone listening to the old musician’s broadcasts? Does his music matter if there’s no one left to hear it? These questions linger long after the final track fades, leaving listeners to ponder their own place in a world that often feels on the brink of collapse.
With Mayday, With Hidden Noise has created more than just an album—it’s a meditation on what it means to be human in the face of oblivion. It’s a testament to the power of art to transcend even the most dire circumstances, a beacon of hope in the darkness. Whether or not anyone is listening, Charlie Berger’s music is a reminder that even at the end of the world, we are not truly alone.
Mayday is available now, a haunting and beautiful addition to the With Hidden Noise discography, and a must-listen for fans of dream pop, shoegaze, and experimental music.
