Superstar producer BT aka Brian Transeau strikes back with the follow-up of his legendary 2006 album This Binary universe. These Hopeful Machines has become what his followers hoped it would be, and even goes far beyond that.

Get ready to be exposed to 12 shiny gems that merge pop, rock, electronic and progressive trance, touched by that special sound of dance music’s golden boy who always seems to be three steps ahead in terms of music production.

These Helpful Machines has first and foremost become an album that bears BT’s unique songwriting skills and compositions, but on a whole new level. Each track on this album is a hybrid, meaning that elements from multiple genres have been used to create something very special and intriguing. We get to hear a bit of progressive, Junkie XL-styled pop & rock, downright captivating trance, plus BT’s very first cover ever: an acoustic remake of The Ghost in You by The Psychedelic Furs.

The story unfolds immediately on the very first track. ‘Suddenly’ immediately unleashes that euphoric sound BT is known and loved for. Thick synth pads, Brian’s own poppy vocals and rough breaks make up a next level pop track of which the chorus is simply utterly amazing (Yours truly immediately felt the urge for clubbing, even though it’s Monday morning and it’s raining cats and dogs - *sigh*). The Emergency is another tune of such utter brilliance. This 10-minute banger opens quite melodramatically and slowly builds up to another epic tune in the form of a seriously ROCKING progressive tune. F*ck yeah! The Light In Things further explores the boundaries of progressive with ever charming JES on vox, while Rose Of Jericho is a purely instrumental big room banger.

Disc #2 is a bit more experimental but nonetheless equally genius. A Million Stars, co-produced by ambient mastermind Ulrich Schnauss, is a beautiful progressive tune with vocals by Kirsty Hawkshaw, well known for her mesmerizing vocals on some of trance music’s biggest cuts. Love Can Kill You sees BT putting on his rock hat with an epic tune that holds the middle somewhere between U2 and Primal Scream, while closing track The Ghost In You provides a dreamy finish in the form of a stripped down acoustic tune to cool down to.

These Hopeful Machines has become everything any electronic music fan could ever wish for. Its content bursts with timeless quality, with a balanced mix of groundbreaking lift-offs and melodramatic moments. BT’s finger licking production method cannot be dubbed anything else than stunning and just when you think things can’t possibly get any better, a fresh new tune or unexpected twist will blow your mind. All these factors make These Hopeful Machine an album of epic proportions.

Buy because: this is one of those electronic music milestones you’ll find yourself listening to over and over again.

Don’t because: no excuses. Get it! Now!

Disc 1

1. Suddenly

2. The Emergency

3. Every Other Way

4. The Light In Things

5. Rose Of Jericho

6. Forget Me

Disc 2

1. A Million Stars

2. Love Can Kill You

3. Always

4. Le Nocturne De Lumiere

5. The Unbreakable

6. The Ghost In You

Rating: 9/10

Label: Black Hole Recordings

Release: Out now!