B-Side Guys

Remixing often constitutes archeological work, unearthing artifacts buried beneath technological limitations or creative hesitations. On this remixed and remastered version of “Black Hole” from the 2020 EP “The Depth,” Century of Ecstasy’s Joakim Persson doesn’t merely polish a previous creation—he excavates its latent potential, revealing dimensions previously compressed within lo-fi constraints.

Originally conceived as an exploration of “secret, dark energy between people” and societal undercurrents, the track operates as both personal confession and cultural diagnosis. The lyrical imagery creates a haunting progression from cosmic metaphor to earthly manifestation, using the titular black hole as both literal void and psychological state. When Persson references wings fighting for existence amid spider webs, he creates visceral tension between freedom and entrapment that resonates throughout the composition.

What distinguishes this revisitation from typical remixes is how it honors the original’s spectral qualities while expanding its dynamic range. The “broken soundscapes” that Persson describes as “cracks in the paint” remain intact, now revealing additional textural detail previously obscured. This approach reflects his stated artistic mission—creating an alternative to “indie rock’s often grandiose and empty musical expressions” through “artful experiments” that swing between “deep introspection and cosmic outrospection.”

Operating under the Century of Ecstasy pseudonym since 2015 (beginning with “Decade in the Shade”), Persson has consistently crafted work that exists in productive tension with temporal placement. His output feels simultaneously retrospective and prophetic—”a distant echo from the past, or a premonition of a future few could predict.” This remixed version of “Black Hole” amplifies this disorienting quality, creating a listening experience that defies chronological fixation.

The track’s concluding imagery of consciousness brought “to a screeching halt” by freezing landscapes speaks to our collective paralysis when confronting existential threats. By describing creatures “lacking in motion” being pulled into gravitational collapse, Persson crafts a potent metaphor for societal inertia in the face of overwhelming forces. This thematic weight contrasts effectively with the “understated, haunting lo-fi textures” of the production, creating cognitive dissonance between sonic approachability and lyrical devastation.

Through this remixed version of “Black Hole,” Century of Ecstasy demonstrates how revisitation can constitute creative advancement rather than nostalgic retreat. By excavating additional dimensions from previous work, Persson suggests that our past creations—like our societal structures—contain depths we’ve yet to fully sound, hidden energies still waiting to be released or confronted.