A Man Apart
DJs Benga, Skream, and Artwork, after working with each other for nearly two decades, come together to form Magnetic Man. The UK electronic music trio released their debut self titled album intended as a bombshell in the English underground, but does it have the staying power to not immediately fizzle out?
With a quick piano driven tempo punctuated by tension strings, “Flying into Tokyo” starts the album eloquently. From there, the album proceeds into a bass heavy R&B track “Fire” as lyricist Ms. Dynamite flirts with dubstep, though the track is ultimately nothing spectacular. “I Need Air,” the single featuring Angela Hunte, is an electro-pop and dubstep hybrid that breathes new life into a retro sounding style. Katy B is featured on two songs on this album, “Perfect Stranger” and “Crossover,” both of which play like an archetypal dubstep tune infused with female vocals. The use of bass step kicks and dubstep wobble effects are rampant on Magnetic Man, however, the use of any notable breakout techniques are ultimately absent.
While fans of the respective DJs will definitely find head banging, feet moving solace in this electronic supergroup, the content here is nothing exceptionally innovative. From the deft hands totaling over half a century of DJ experience, this American critic expected just a little more. Luckily, these three prodigies are still in their beginnings and have plenty of time to hone their craft. Let’s see what they do next, shall we?
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