When it comes to experimentation, San Francisco-based electronic group The M Machine are risk-takers. From dabbling with Japanese voice synthesizers in โSuperflatโ to tapping the creators of Superjail! and Ugly Americans on โTiny Anthem,โ theyโre a group known for their innovation in sound. Dropping just last week on record label OWSLA, Just Like is their most audaciousย release to date, and marks aย transition from their previous releasesย Metropolis Pt. I and Pt. II. Departing from their electro-house-influenced style — defined byย processed vocals over washed out synths, as seen in โTiny Anthemโ onย Metropolis Part II,ย and the standard buildup-into-drops, like on โShadow in the Rose Gardenโ off of Metropolis Part I — Just Like picks aggressive, crisper beats but ditches the buildup completely. The title track โJust Likeโ is the most suggestiveย of this transition in style — with little warning, heavily processed vocals layeredย over a warbled-synth suddenly drop into a future garage beat reminiscent of Disclosure. The combination is odd, and many other tracks on the EP follow a similar pattern of processed vocal that lead into a shuddering bassline. However, one track poorly blendsย with the rest of the EP; โOver/Loveโ is a standard pop (hipster-friendly) dance tune, aย fine track on its own; it could be even argued that it plays perfectly to The M Machine’s strength of mixing EDM and indie. Yet, in the context of Just Like, itโs kind of out of place. The tracks that come before and after itย areย strikinglyย differentย —ย remindful ofย the stark difference ofย theย Just Like EP from the rest of The M Machineโs discography. It’s too soonย to say if the changeย is permanent, butย it certainly deviates awayย from the groupโs characteristic style. This isnโt to say that the change is necessarily a bad thing, but it may leave those more familiar with The M Machine, well, a little confused. While the departure in style on Just Like may expose The M Machine to more listeners, one can not help but feel that this may alienate some existing fans.ย This may be attributed to theย length and its lack of coherency —ย both within itself and within the rest of the electro-house movement. Whether this is justย another phase of experimentation for The M Machineย or if Just Like is indicative of aย more permanent shift in overall style, it is still aย littleย premature to tell. Stream the full album on YouTube. Article by John Luan Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Δ