Trace, by gridlock

Trace

by gridlock

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yintov so good to have a definitive version of this. Trace was a revelation to me back in 2001, and opened my eyes to the new wave of US electronic music from n5md et al. still sounds amazing Favorite track: Bu'yaam.

AquEar-ious Space music. This sound as universal language awakens unearthly emotions of the inner.
An intoxicating, timeless piece of art.
A Trace in time. Favorite track: Front.

holonmusic One of my favorite albums ever. Spent countless hours listening to it when it first came out. Favorite track: 364:277.

barcraw UH4.17 - when this track stops stimmiing, we get a chilled out bassline and simple drums which dissolve into the next track (just like the previous tracks sortra sorta!!!) <3 Favorite track: UH4.17.

Retrovertigo one of the greatest idm albums ever made, hands down Favorite track: 364:277.

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Includes unlimited streaming of Trace via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

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1.	Fix 03:20	buy track
2.	Front 04:45	buy track
3.	Voiceless 06:59	buy track
4.	UH4.17 03:41	buy track
5.	Untitled 02:15	buy track
6.	397:ALD 05:54	buy track
7.	Estrella 06:54	buy track
8.	Back 08:04	buy track
9.	364:277 09:53	buy track
10.	Untitled 06:29	buy track
11.	Done 02:55	buy track
12.	Bu'yaam 05:08	buy track
13.	Rewound 04:07	buy track
14.	36:6:115 04:43	buy track
15.	Chandler's Living Room 03:51	buy track

about

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.

credits

released June 5, 2026

All Sounds and their execution by Gridlock
Vocals on 397:ALD and Estrella by Lynda Mandolyn

Lynda Mandolyn appeared courtesy of
Pink & Black/Fat Wreck Chords & Evil Eye Records
Vcam appears courtesy of his own bad self

© Gridlock 2001 Ⓟ VIASONDE 2026
Published by n5Music (BMI)

Distribution NA: The Business / ROW: SRD

This release is dedicated to the memory of Mike Wells.

50% of the proceeds from this release will go to The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention @ afsp.org

If you or a loved one are in a crisis?
Call or text 988 or text TALK to 741741

This is gridlock epilogue three...

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about

gridlock San Francisco, California

Gridlock was a San Francisco based experimental electronic band, consisting of Mike Wells and Mike Cadoo. Conceived by Wells in 1993 as "heaviness through electronics", the band was initially a part of the electro-industrial scene, but the band's sound eventually began incorporating more atmospheric textured elements, as well as elements of glitch and IDM. ... more

discography

Live.Traces.

Jun 2026
Trace

Jun 2026
Further

Jul 2025
The Synthetic Form

Jun 2024

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Trace

by gridlock

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