Alexipharmaca, Mem1’s second full-length album, is a collection of
improvised works that capture the allure of the forbidden and dangerous, and the modern fascination with things ancient and shrouded in mystery.
The album’s title is taken from a set of poems written by Nicander of
Colophon, a Greek pharmacologist (fl. 197-130 B.C.E.), whose text
deals with plant and animal poisons and their antidotes.
Mem1’s music intoxicates with its rich textures and lavish soundscapes, but — like a beautiful yet deadly flower — something ominous inevitably lurks beneath the surface. While toxic substances can bring elation and seemingly endless bliss, they can be lethal in large doses. Alexipharmaca provides the opportunity to experience this sublime demise through the saturation of aural splendor.