Electronic/Review Mars_999 - Prízraky v Tmách

Mars_999 is the solo moniker of Slovak singer-producer Juraj Péč, known for fusing analog electronics with cinematic, art-driven visuals. After years with the alt band Čisté Tvary, he now focuses on concise, mood-heavy songs that live between club shadow and film frame.

Slovak musician Mars_999 (Juraj Péč, previously of Čisté Tvary) makes a somber and mesmerizing sounds into the goth-synthpop genre with his fourth single, “Prízraky v Tmách.” The tune, which is based on a throbbing analog bassline that never lets up, is fueled by atmosphere and manages to transform simplicity into something mesmerizing, dark, and powerful. The Slovak-sung vocals add to the enigmatic atmosphere, their rhythm resonating in the darkness like half-spoken confessions.

Australian producer Rohin Brown oversaw the recording process at Prague's famed Faust Studio, which gave the song a blend of contemporary accuracy and vintage textures. The live bass of well-known Czech artist Jakub Vejnar provides a warm, organic rhythm that roots the track, while vintage equipment like the Juno-6 and ARP Omni offer rich, spectral synth layers. The song's power lies in the harmony of human and machine touch; even in its most sinister passages, it comes to life.

There is an addition to the song in the form of a visually appealing music video, which was directed by Slovak visual artist Marián Vredík, adds to the mystique of “Prízraky v Tmách.” A surreal, symbolic universe is created using tarot archetypes, dreamy scenes, and the strange appearance of a puppet doppelgänger. Freier's outfits and Atelier HORA's jewelry add to this ritualistic style, giving references to Alejandro Jodorowsky's avant-garde filmmaking while maintaining the imagery's strong hold on a modern, gothic aesthetic.

In the end, “Prízraky v Tmách” is more than just a song; it's a fully immersive work of art that combines symbolism, sound, and vision. Mars_999 demonstrates his skill in telling stories with a strong sense of atmosphere that stick with the listener long after the last note has faded.