“A New Reason”, a frenzied track built on furious synth arrangement with a retro West Coast flute-like lick and punchy drums.  The emcee leads the charge with a laidback but intentional flow and insightful bars, followed by a rich melodic chorus that blends soft rock/pop aesthetics. The overall feel is urgent and throws listeners right into the mix of the action, and the other part that makes it dope is the switch at the end. The production here is massive and dynamic, and is a brilliant way to start the project. The next track, “Accidental Genius,” is a melting pot of genres ranging from 80s electro/soul/pop and modern glitch-hop elements and a dash of dance grooves. The vocal performances here are playful and the use of laidback raps, ultra pop-influenced hooks with synthesized vocal effects makes it different. Some parts feel a bit too on the nose, for us anyway, but overall, it gets the job done and is a testament to the group’s willingness to experiment with their musicality. This leads into “Pragmatic,” which is largely an instrumental piece with minimal vocals. The style here is yet another frenzied cut comprising distorted bass-laden punchy drums, trippy pads and glitchy effects that add colour and urgency to the overall tone. The tracks’ progression evokes a feeling of victory and involves a lot of breaks, vocal-driven transitions with stutter effects and hard-hitting drops that connect different segments of the track to each other. It is absolutely boisterous and edgy if you ask us.

For the most part, the group don’t shy away from their core foundation, which is based on layered synths, electronic music and edgy sound design techniques. These attributes are further amplified on the rest of the album starting with “Jus’ Been Thinkin’ ‘Bout You (Yeah).“ The bedroom synth-pop styling is punctuated with punchy rock-inspired drums, scenic lead pads and laid back rap and autotuned melodic vocals. To be honest, it is serviceable for us as the melodies feel a bit too robotic, but it gets the job done and doesn’t stray from the group’s core style. The track “Angel Fly” is a favourite of ours for its overall texture. Reminiscent of 80s electrowave with a modern alternative hip-hop/rock stylings, the group build on their sound with a layered approach that is ripe with dark, moody vibes and a mesmerizing melodic performance. The final track, “This is My Masterpiece,” helps bring the project to a close with a bittersweet feeling. The vocals are deep and commanding, and the insightful songwriting digs deep into topics like self-belief, inner struggles and eventual triumph over the odds. Overall, This is My Masterpiece is a look back at the group’s origins and gives listeners a glimpse into their growth as musicians who keep pushing the musical boundaries.

Produced and directed by MUG5 — creative director, pioneer, and founder of New York Creative Agency RIOT — Bleed Electric represents a decade-long experiment in Future Fresh and cinematic storytelling. MUG5 has directed campaigns and productions for global brands while continuing to pioneer experimental work in music, art, photography and film.