Machinedrum is the best producer you’ve never heard. Owing more to
guys like Prefuse 73 or Boards of Canada than crate-diggers like J.
Dilla or Madlib, Machinedrum (Travis Stewart) serves up club-ready,
electro-framed jams that would fit easily into a Diplo set. His tracks
are grounded in some serious synth-funk, while additional tinkering and
filtering is mind-blowing without becoming distracting. Want to 1
2? plays like the sort of DJ set that leaves everyone sweating and
fellow producers with their jaws on the floor. There are slick
MC-tackled cuts (“Late Night Operation,” “Let It”), smooth
R&B-flavored jams (“In the Dust”), RJD2-inspired fare (“911,”
“Currents”) and even the sort of hard dance tones Justice has almost
trademarked (“Freshkids”). Still, what’s most impressive is how Stewart
manages to get his knob-twiddling on without damaging some
well-designed songs. His technical prowess is fully on display, but so
is his ability to program dangerously sharp hooks and persuasive
grooves. Want to 1 2? offers a balance between accessibility and
depth that most contemporary producers lack.
— Matt Whelihan
This article appears in Apr 22-28, 2009.
Amazing producer, well put when you say: “the best producer you’ve never heard.”