This marvelous menagerie on Machine Records, entitled “Machine Music, Vol. V,” is chock full of [SPOILER ALERT] electronic music. The label marshaled eleven songs they released in 2022 for this mix, so it’s an excellent way to get a taste of the music the label has on offer.
To give you a sense of the variety, here are some that jumped out at me:
- “War Industry” by Phase4our includes multiple mixed rhythms and multilayered melodies (and maybe it’s just me, but I even felt some jazz elements in the production).
- The slow swing of “Drifting” by Anatomist settles into a funky groove that will get the old skull moving up-and-down to the beat.
- Untiled nudges us a bit toward noise territory with “Void Pulse II.” There are some mildly humming electric drone sounds, sci-fi equipment noises, and mild industrial metals interjected over the stop/start beats.
- “Lost Comrades” by Starlings has some heavier drone action, but also rhythms made with a fragile stick sound that gives the impression the players are communicating with each other…or maybe sending us a message.
All in all, a miscellany of pleasing electronic music. Meander over to Machine Records and grab this (or, even better, become a VIP).