MACHINE GIRL: MG ULTRA

SCORE: 87/100

The fast-paced breakbeat sound of 'MG Ultra' is one that hooked me in almost instantaneously; something I wasn't expecting from the project at all. It's an instant stunner from the moment the first beat hits, and it's a nonstop pool of energy that will have you holding on for dear life as you're brought on a heavily sporadic ride through the mind of Machine Girl.

Apart from some less-than-desirable vocal performances, 'MG Ultra' is a massively enjoyable album that explodes and never stops for even a second of air. It's a relentless force that is both full of chaos and refined production and soundscapes, and each beat comes together into something hugely chaotic and truly enjoyable.

The style of this album is deeply consistent. Everything comes together exactly as it should while still throwing some curveballs in to leave you guessing for the album's entire runtime, and it's clear that Stephenson knows what he's doing to a masterclass degree when it comes to being the one behind production for the album. 

'MG Ultra' is a highly impressive body of work, but it isn't something I would come back to - the novelty of the project and the sheer volume of energy that it has makes it truly enjoyable to listen to, but the amount of impact it has isn't enough to make it something I would go back to for another listen. I wouldn't consider this project to be entirely "my thing", and I think that some of the duo's other work may be more up my alley as this project feels a bit too vocally charged for my liking when it comes to breakbeat.

With some slight tweaks and less vocal performances, 'MG Ultra' had massive potential to be even better than it already is; an impressive feat considering how strong the album already is the way it turned out in the end. The tracks are all enjoyable and they all have different aspects that make them unique, and the composition & structure of the album make it more than worthwhile. It's heavily reliant on its production, but the sheer quality of the production alone makes the album worth your time.

'MG Ultra' goes by in what feels like a frenzy, with clashing beats and sounds that whip and spin together into one whirlwind of breakbeats, glitches, and loud vocals that come together into an album that shouldn't work - a big mess that works better than it ever should, a mess of sounds that manages to jumble together into a deeply cohesive project with a huge amount of strikingly creative direction and producorial prowess.

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