The Glitch Mob – We Can Make the World Stop

To Glitch, Or Not to Glitch

What’s in a name? For The Glitch Mob, it’s that which we call the vanguards of glitch hop. The musical tri-fecta of edIT, Boreta, and Ooah has set the standard of progressive electronic music since they hit the Los Angeles beat scene in 2006. With a style of music that makes listeners wonder what beat is going to drop next, The Glitch Mob have released a new EP of original music that stays true to the element of surprise while subtly diverging from it.

The opening title track says it all. “We Can Make the World Stop” surprises listeners as a somewhat predictable piece with a straightforward sound. It heralds their stylistic changes with a distinctive quarter-note beat that is usually foreign to The Glitch Mob’s style. The overall tone isn’t as spunky as some of their older releases, but it displays a more laidback, refined energy that justifies their stylistic changes. When “Warrior Concerto” begins with a fanfare of horns, the accompanying synthesizer line is off-putting and less than impressive as an introduction to an electronic concerto. However, the rest of the track makes up for it by turning into a modern concerto for a glitched-out synthesizer. The fury of this synthesized warrior is reminiscent of a Baroque toccata revamped with contemporary instrumentation. The inventive EP closes with a track that leans towards their original style. “Palace of the Innocents” is contemplative with a meditative aura, resonant of the psychedelic glitch that The Glitch Mob originally forged as their own.

Different doesn’t necessarily mean worse, and We Can Make the World Stop is a testament to the mantra. The Glitch Mob has successfully renewed their position atop the progressive electronic scene, proving their versatility as producers and musicians. As a whole, We Can Make the World Stop surprises listeners with a new sound for the trio that marks a turning point in their musical careers. For better or for worse, this turning point seems to steer away from their sporadic, glitchy sound in favor of displaying their skills as progressive artists.