Beats Antique: Contraption v. II
Beats Antique: Contraption v. II — The new EP from Beats Antique, everyone’s favorite Middle Eastern electronica outfit, does not disappoint — but it also doesn’t stretch much. The tracks fit snugly into the band’s self-created genre, and it’s all got a good groove. But little of it grabs you and shows you something new. I’m surprised there weren’t more influences from modern, seductive pop music.
The exception is Track 4, “Crooked Muse,” featuring Lynx. I give Lynx the credit — the groove is good as always, but the vocals are downright sexy, the only time on the EP that’s achieved. That seems strange when you consider that this music is written to accompany a bellydance routine.
Another bright moment is Track 6, “Colony Collapse,” which also has its moments of glitchy groove happiness. As we’ve grown to expect from a professional ensemble like Beats Antique, everything is well-produced, and the songs do hit the stride sometimes. The 8-track EP, Contraption v. II, is worth a listen — but I pose that seeing Beats Antique live is superior to anything they can capture on an album. 5/10