The M Machine | Metropolis Remixed

Background

As you may have read in my previous reviews of this Metropolis masterpiece, The M Machine, formerly Pance Party, are an electronic duo (used to be trio) based in San Fransisco, California.  They made their name known when their debut EP "Promise Me A Rose Garden/Glow" was released on OWSLA, and remained #2 on Beatport for an entire week.  A teaser for their "Metropolis EP," now split into two parts, went viral.  The first part, "Metropolis, Pt. I" released in April 2012, with the second installment, "Metropolis, Pt. II," releasing almost a year later in February 2013.  "Metropolis" as a whole is based on the sci-fi film "Metropolis" and tells the story of the dystopian city of Metropolis.  On The M Machine's website is an illustrated story that goes along with the EP, the third part of which lines up with the Remix EP and can be found here.  "Metropolis Remixed" was released later the same year as the second part of the EP, and features a star-studded lineup of remixers, as well as one original from The M Machine.

Review

Listen to "Metropolis Remixed"

The M Machine have held back nothing when it came to filling their remix EP with some of the hottest names in EDM at the time, and those artists left everything on the album.  "Metropolis Remixed" is a wonderful mix of various styles that perfectly concludes the ideas that the first two EP's started.  The Remix EP starts off strong with Digitalism's remix of "Moon Song," which brings none of the heavy dissonant chords but instead is an upbeat, danceable tune.  Kill The Noise reimagines "Ghosts in the Machine" in a futuristic, lasers, wobbly soundscape of heavy dubstep.  Robotaki takes "A King Alone" and turns it into a happy, and almost tropical, progressive house track reminiscent of "The Veldt" by Deadmau5.  "Data Palace" is an original track, but even then, it's technically a reimagining of "The Palace (feat. Blake Hazard)" which appeared on the second part of the Metropolis EP.  It's a snare-heavy remake, and has a tasty filtered lead synth and a heavy wobble at the drop.  Shinichi Osawa's remix of "Tiny Anthem" is rather slow and interesting, with a house-esque beat (although at a much more relaxed tempo) and an interesting melodic climax with overdriven kicks and a classic acid synth.  Tantrum Desire manages an American-style drum and bass remix of "Schadenfreude" filled to the brim with wobbles, growls, lasers, and more on top of that drum and bass beat we all know and love.  Matt Lange takes "Shadow In The Rose Garden" to a whole another dimension in his chilled out remix, in direct contrast with the synth-heavy dubstep of the original.  He's managed to create an eerie, almost wistful remix full of strange sounds and ethereal synths.  Proxy turned the chill house vibe of the original into a warped out trap remix with his vision of "Faces."  The deep rumble of the 808 vibes perfectly with the bright, fluttery synth on top.  "Black (Trifonic Remix)" closes out the EP and is probably my favorite off it, too.  He takes the bass synth from the original and uses it as a deep accent to an otherwise misty swirl of ambient sound.  This, with the chill trap beat, makes for a unique and reflective track.

The M Machine never lack creativity as they took the lead at the front of the EDM world after signing to OWSLA, and this remix EP, while not directly theirs, continues their legacy in the best of way and brings a fresh slew of ideas to their already fantastic EP duo.  The selected lineup delivered in the best way and kept the legacy of Metropolis going strong.  8/10

Sources

Wikipedia | The M Machine