The Matrix, Terminator, I, Robot…movies that exaggerate a frightfully close reality of our dependence on machines. That being said, it is only sensical that Mark Pritchard remains topical on his latest release, When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence, under the name Harmonic 313. Different than his other work, Harmonic 313 takes an eclectic approach to WMEHI, creating something humane but eerily robotic.

The first track, “Dirtbox,” has a name as fitting as its sound waves. An incredibly bassy track, like a Glitch-Mob show meets a dance club, “Dirtbox” bounces off your bowels and back into your ear drums, with plenty of flavor to make it enjoyable. After opening the curtains, Harmonic 313 takes us on his journey through space, time and technology. “No Way Out” uses what appears to be a laser blast as a snare clap, with lightsaber like synths zooming in the background. However there is still the stench of a rotting techno corpse in the background. It is as if Harmonic 313 has recognized that in his future, techno has died, but he still pays due credit to it in his music. Then Harmonic 313 opens a door that stamps your face with the reason he is 313 (Detroit’s Area Code). This stamp is called “Battlestar,” featuring Phat Kat and Elzhi. This song certainly channels Dilla himself, but still succeeds in keeping the flare the rest of WMEHI has. And, like most the album, as he closes that door he opens another. “Don’t Panic” is as if M83 got fused with a twisted robot who had no musical boundaries: attempting to make a precise, melodic song, but leaving it as scattered as the robots wiring…in the best way possible.

Harmonic 313 wanted not only an influential album, but one full of influences itself. UK Bass, hip-hop, Detroit techno, even 80’s funk/electro, all music that Mark Pritchard borrowed from to create an original record he that can call his own.When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence is the perfect musical equivalent to our relentless dependancy on technology. However Harmonic 313 twists this to create something completely symbiotic: the dream of Artificial Intelligence that has emotion. This is Mark Pritchard…this is “When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence.

RELATED POSTS:

No related posts.