As the worlds of electronic and experimental music have overlapped, the results have always been a surprising back-and-forth of abrasive and addictive. Luckily in the case of Makeness latest record however, Kyle Molleson uses a little bit of both to make a record worth remembering. Using a mastery of club energy and a fearlessness in sonic boundary-pushing Molleson hits highs more often than lows.

The creeping beats and electronic screeches of “Loud Patterns” set off the album with a monstrous energy that give its dance hooks that extra oomph. Once it hits its stride the song gains a more bouncy and triumphant rush of life that make its walls of feedback a primal force to push the song forward just as hard as its bass. “Fire Behind The Two Louis” subverts its otherwise innocuous keyboard notes with a pounding and unusual beat and its slowly evolving synth hits. As Makeness takes on parts LCD Soundsystem and parts experimental electronica, they create a song that’s never predictable but always enjoyable.

“Who Am I To Follow Love” creates a nostalgic energy despite its somewhat kooky riffs that fly behind the lo-fi sheen it glides on. Thanks to its pointed and focused percussion and the creamy vocals, the song is a pop-infused standout with endless harmonic bliss. In its explosive but buried groove, you can hear the infectious energy that “Stepping Out Of Sync” is trying to push forward. It’s in the way Makeness slowly releases this power however that shows Molleson’s true mastery as an electronic producer and gives the song a real sense of dynamics.

Though “Gold Star” hits many of the same club-influenced notes of the rest of the record, there’s an oddly entrancing quality to how their pop writing slowly bleeds into the track. There’s just so much addictive hook work in this song that you’ll be just getting over one riff while another three are surprising you. “The Bass Rock” swirls its electronic loop with a magical build of harmonious energy that seems to building off its own uncontrollable noise. When it finally breaks out of its build into some hard beats, the energy is so overpowering you’ll be caught up in the climax.

Unlike much of Loud Patterns, “Day Old Death” loses a lot of its appeal in its quieter and softer moments, as it just feels like completely separate ideas. This said, where Makeness does crank things up on this track, they go all out and let loose some of their most powerful riffs. “Rough Moss” focuses right on the music for hard and fast club banger, that is constantly roaring with something different. Calling on some of the energy and magic of songs like “Get Innocuous” the track never lets one moment grow dull, and instead keeps the energy building.

“Our Embrace” rides a similar floor-borne energy as its house vibe slowly transforms throughout the tracks righteous energy. Here however Makeness never slow down, and instead have their track take on many different faces and find cohesion in the aftermath. This is why a track like “14 Drops” will require many more listens to admire however, as the stellar beat and tone modulation will feel almost too simple by comparison. The motorcycle-fuelled beat-warping on “Motorcycle Idling” is about as hilarious as its way too loud in the mix, and it really just feels too monotonous and piercing to warrant any repeated listens.

Words by Owen Maxwell