We’ve got the premiere of Max Miller’s debut EP Pretty Waste for you ahead of its release tomorrow. Fresh off being featured in an episode of the USA Network’s Emmy nominated “Mr. Robot”, Max Miller has assembled an electronic rock opus that delves into the fatalistic and futile nature of love. Pretty Waste is EDM as philosophical ruminations, a look beyond the dance floor and DJ booth to the quiet moments after long nights turn into harsh mornings.
“No We” opens the album with a THX-like ramping up of electronic tones as whispered shouts echo over heavy guitars. “There is no we, there is no us, I’m not sure there ever was” are the words that slowly come into focus in an immersive moment of clarity over howls and discord.
“Pretty Waste” follows, briefly repeating the “there is no we” chant before a laid back beat with even more laid back rhymes takes hold. A colossal piano anchors the track, its appearance adding a gravitas to the overall effervescent instrumentation. When the bridge first arcs its way across the song, it becomes apparent Miller will not be beholden to one genre as he blurs and blends a number of styles as the track unspools.
The next tune, “Dead In My Tracks”, again finds Miller using enormous sounds to create epic instrumentation under intimate ruminations on the nature of love. With a dank groove as thick as molasses, “Dead In My Tracks” is a powerful number that creates a full sound without becoming overloaded.
The last two tracks on Pretty Waste are remixes of the title track itself. The first is called the “modem remix” and it is as much an experience as it is a remix. Reminiscent of a symphonic soundtrack to the credits of a videogame, it is an exquisitely layered electronic overture to our protagonist’s journey with love. The second is a remix by Doug Linse and it is a lush, pulsing audio cloud of haunting beats and tones. This specific remix also pushes the message of the lyrics to the fore, making it clear that the song and album don’t only serve as meditations on love, but also societal norms and expectations.
You can pre-order Pretty Waste now and you can follow Max Miller on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
