Machinedrum leaves no stone left unturned to create iced-out pop with a broken, twisted heart

Opening track “The Relic” is the embodiment of A View of U: A musical illusion that shifts its style and sound before your very ears. Is it R&B? Footwork? Jungle? EDM’s dirty little secret? It’s all of them, jammed into one. It begins with a trickling, plucked arpeggio that is quickly met by a clinical beat, doused by Rochelle Jordan’s airy vocals, only to be reignited by a scraping, mechanical Frankenstein of bass. It’s a track that navigates through peaks and troughs of heartache and raw aggression. The perfect intro to an album filled with surprises at every turn.

“Kane Train” featuring Freddie Gibbs is an assault on chart hip hop, blending an old school MPC-style horn sample with a glistening lo-fi beat. “Wait 4 U” is reminiscent of Stewart's work on his 2011 album, Room(s)—liquifying the grit of jungle and footwork to draw out its sadness. By the time “Spin Blocks” arrives, the record begins to show off its poppier tendencies—for better or for worse. It’s the first instance on the album of Stewart not quite hitting the mark. It’s a classic soulful hip hop sound with a 2020 rap flow; a great idea, but Father’s delivery doesn’t stand out, unfortunately, his voice doesn’t have the character to propel the beat.

“Believe in U” takes the pad-whacking energy of “Kane Train” and stokes the fire with a classic Jackson Sisters vocal sample, creating a fun-filled rug-cutter for all the family. Stewart then aims straight at the pop charts with “Inner Eye”, a sugary hip hop and bass stomp that picks up where Major Lazer, TNGHT and Skrillex left off.

The albums foundations are built upon UK rave, jungle, footwork and bass culture—much like Stewart's previous outings, but A View of U is glossier, more accessible. It’s like he’s dipped all his influences in honey, pulling out a warm, syrupy goo of dancefloor goodness.