Trace [2LP]

Gridlock - Trace [2LP]

Trace represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of Gridlock, bridging their early industrial framework with the expansive ambient and IDM-informed sound that would define their later work.

Following the release of Further, Mike Cadoo and Mike Wells began developing material for a series of live performances. However, it quickly became apparent that their creative direction was diverging from the rhythmic noise structures of their past. During this same period, their longtime home, Pendragon Records, was acquired by Metropolis Records. The duo initially agreed to continue under the new ownership, though the partnership would prove increasingly incompatible as their sound evolved. As a transitional release, they issued 5.25, a collection of remixes, rarities, and live recordings that effectively closed the chapter on their earlier era.

The early sessions for Trace were marked by disruption. A fire in a neighboring unit forced the duo to halt work, introducing an abrupt pause in production. Months later, they regrouped in a new studio space in downtown Oakland, where their workflow expanded alongside their ambitions. During this period, Gridlock increasingly incorporated elements of ambient, glitch, and IDM, all while retaining a distinct sense of structure and emotional tension.

As the material developed, it became clear that Trace no longer aligned with Metropolis’s expectations or audience. The duo requested to leave the label, and the separation was amicable. Around the same time, Possessive Blindfold Recordings launched its experimental sublabel Unit Records, inspired in part by forward-thinking imprints like Hymen Records. Unit provided an ideal platform for Gridlock’s increasingly nuanced and exploratory sound.

With a new label and studio environment, the duo completed Trace, an album whose internal structure often reflects fragmentation and reconstruction. Several compositions unfold in distinct movements, suggesting phases of disruption and recovery—an echo of the instability surrounding its creation. The record’s intricate programming, detailed micro-edits, and layered atmospheres marked a significant technical and artistic leap, placing it alongside the more cerebral end of early-2000s electronic music.

Released in early 2001, Trace received a favorable response in underground circles. The press noted its fusion of melodic soundscapes and fractured rhythm, as well as its departure from conventional industrial frameworks. The album has since come to be regarded as a cornerstone of Gridlock’s catalog and a key example of the period’s shift toward hybrid ambient-IDM forms.

Gridlock would continue along this trajectory with their final album, Formless, before disbanding—leaving behind a concise but deeply influential body of work.

In tribute to Mike Wells, who passed away in 2022, Viasonde is reintroducing Gridlock’s catalog with the support of his family. Following the 2024 reissue of The Synthetic Form and the 2025 reissue of Further, Trace returns on June 5th as a limited clear vinyl pressing with white splatter, with 50 percent of proceeds donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Wells’ honor.