Mad Max Product

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Mad Max offers up a selection of eight deep electronic instrumentals with song titles that reveal the conceptual and musical theme running throughout. The minimalist techno vibe of "First Kiss" kicks things off, building in intensity until it morphs into "First Night," a super fun, filter-filled groover that tips its hat to both electro and house. "I Love You" continues on the tech-house tip, built around a heavy drum pattern that's carried over with glee to "I Need You," an absolute album highlight. Here, Max' skills make it clear that the fine-line distinctions between dance music sub-genres matter not; his sound is fresh and energetic, propelled by deep bass and a crazed, intense vocal sample. The conceptual clincher comes with the funky and celebratory sounds of "I Leave You," after which the question of "Why Did You Leave Me" is asked. The album closes with "Drum 'n Drum" and "'n Drum," two pieces that are, as suggested by the titles, all about the beat. Clever titles aside, Live At... marks the emergence of a true talent — Mad Max Product understands subtlety as well as he does sound.