Hello
is a companion release to
Magic Pony Ride
,
Mike Paradinas
' 2022 album produced as he was preparing a 25th anniversary album of his game-changing classic
Lunatic Harness
. While
seems less conceptual than
and more like a collection of other tracks from the sessions that didn't fit the main album, it is by no means inferior, and might even be slightly better overall. Continuing to mine the same style of breakbeat-heavy techno/jungle as
is a bit punchier and more club-friendly, with less ambient-leaning moments, and during some tracks it simply goes harder. The opening title track uses the vocal samples prominent throughout
but adds rumbling acid synths and deadlier breaks. "Green Chaos" is a darkside interpretation of footwork, using post-disco vocal samples that will be particularly familiar to
RP Boo
fans. "Pyramidal Mind Dispersion" is a seven-minute progressive breaks epic that starts out softly and gradually weaves other layers on top, keeping things in motion but never blowing its top. "Pentagonal Antiprism" is a mind-bending nightmare filled with dislocated breaks, spooky sounds, and thudding footwork bass. "Metabidiminished Icosahedron" has more demolished breakbeats, with melodies that seem both frightened and happy. ~ Paul Simpson