MACHINE MADE PLEASURE
"Ends With E"
Machine Made Pleasure
Release Date: March 2008

Ends With E is the second album from electronic duo Machine Made Pleasure. Unlike their first album, Spirit Within, there are no remixes included on the album. By the time I finished listening to this album, I could hear some of the elements from Spirit Within, but there is also a noticeable sonic progression. Ends With E isn’t simply just a retread of Spirit Within.

For fans who really enjoyed the duo’s first album, songs like “In a Dark World,” “The Coming Storm,” and “Venus De Milo” should hit a home run, since they sound the most like songs that could have appeared on Spirit Within.

However, there are also songs on the album that could potentially appeal to new listeners as well. The biggest surprise to me was the song, “Shine.” It is one of the most upbeat songs I have heard from Machine Made Pleasure, and of all the tracks on the disc, it sounds the least like something that would have appeared on the first album. I also felt the duo was taking some chances musically on other songs as well, such as “Whisper My Name,” “Celebrity,” “Evangeline,” and “Save Me.”

Ends With E is a rather strong sophomore effort, and it makes me really curious and excited for such a point that Machine Made Pleasure releases a third album. I’m really interested to see what direction the duo takes their music next. I have a feeling that in the future, we will look back and be referring to Ends With E as a “bridge” album, since it will be the one to bridge between Spirit Within and whatever musical direction Machine Made Pleasure goes in next.

(reviewed by Lesley Muir Aeschliman on May 12, 2008)