Label: Edition Records, 2026
Personnel - Mark Guiliana: drums, percussion, electronics, keyboards, guitar, vocals; Nicholas Semrad: keyboards; Stu Brooks: electric bass (#3), electronics (#2,4,7,8); Tim Lefebvre: electric bass (#2,4,6); Gretchen Parlato: vocals (#4,5); Marley Guiliana: vocals (#5).
Mixed feelings arose from listening to Beat Music 2.0, the synth-infused follow-up to Mark Guiliana’s Grammy-nominated album Beat Music! Beat Music! Beat Music! (Motéma, 2019). Retro and futuristic waves emerge from Guiliana’s compositions, which draw inspiration from early gaming culture and electronic music. Still, the focus here is on human connection and collaboration, as he enlists keyboardist Nicholas Semrad, bassist Tim Lefebvre, vocalist Gretchen Parlato, and Stu Brooks on electronics.
The opener, “B.ANG”, excavates retro electronic music through glitchy synth ostinatos that march alongside the harmonic progression, along with a mix of ambient undercurrents and Gary Numan-style electro-rock energy. Although it tests the elasticity of the song’s edges, this piece failed to leave a strong impression on me. “B.ORN” and “W.EST” are also nothing special, while “D.RUM”, with its industrial stomp generating controlled trepidation and Parlato’s vocals highlighting the contrasting ambient-leaning passages, has a little more flair.
I did feel a spark on numbers like “P.LAY”, whose actively propulsive drumming, together with Lefebvre’s brawny bass fluxes and pedals, is nothing short of gravity-defying, and “B.EAT”, whose grooving dub atmosphere morphs into club-dance territory for a while. Brooks, who infuses relevant, to-the-point electronics into the former, switches to electric bass on the latter. Also worth mentioning is “M.OVE”, whose danceable techno patterns reminded me of 808 State. Cross-rhythmic tides and dramatic shifts make this one a standout.
Guiliana’s passion for what he does is undeniable, yet the prevailing virtues of Beat Music 2.0 come to the fore when the layers adopt a less explicit old-school electronic vibe in favor of more modernistic experimentation.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - P.LAY ► 03 - B.EAT ► 07 - M.OVE