There exists in electronic music today, a series of never ending debates about how music is categorized with respect to specific genre. Thank goodness Beats Antique is here to show us that we don’t have to settle for just one topping on our sundae. Fresh off their last tour for A Thousand Faces – Act I, the Oakland-based trio wasted no time in releasing A Thousand Faces – Act II.  Act I was a new touch on the same seductive, mysterious harem anthems we have come to know and love, but Act II really gives the belly dancer horns, taking their renowned diversity to new extremes.

The album opens up with “Dragon’s Eye,” an epic and suspenseful track that uses powerful, choppy sections interlacing drums, horns and strings to grab your attention and hold on to it for dear life.

“Puzzle” is an upbeat blend of glitch sounds with that Antique flavor, reminding the listener to stay on their feet… dancing shoes will be required. The production is cutting edge and is blended perfectly with just the right amount of “antique.”

“Refusal” slows down the vibe, adding a refreshing change of pace and showing us the range of their creativity. Sorne delivers us a soft, somber ballad that is extremely moving.

“The Rift” picks up the pace in a storm of middle eastern mystery. As I listen, I can’t help but imagine myself being hustled through a Moroccan bazaar, in the company of belly dancers draped in silk.

“Awaken” is another example of the diversity in their music, with a soft yet inspiring simplicity. It is a captivating, violin-filled roller coaster that feels like a tale of loss and redemption.

Spirits are once again raised in “Roadworthy,” using some serious funk to remind you that you are most certainly not in Kansas anymore….this is not your everyday Beats album.

If you weren’t already on your toes…. “Clash” will throw you off the edge of your seat. It opens like a hip hop soundtrack to Sweeny Todd, but after incorporating some glitch, the drums hit hard and fast, leading into a screeching electric guitar reminiscent of Hendrix. It sounds and feels like a mix of vintage Zeppelin and Dick Dale’s “Misirlou” (the sample used in “Pump It” by The Black Eyed Peas)… obviously with that same Beats Antique flavor. The breakdown comes in their own form of weird suspenseful circus sounds, gradually bringing back the funk and the glitch. The guitar comes back in even harder, eventually leading us back into the hard and fast drums and the song’s ending. It is a ROLLER COASTER!

“Resurrection” is nothing less than a Beats classic; it is soft but also manages to receive the momentum of the album well, even in all its intensity. It captures perfectly the wide range of emotion put into all of Act II. As a single song, “Resurrection” is a metaphor for the whole album.

Many artists would call that a respectable close to an album, but this is Beats Antique! They added for us a last song, “Jumpin,” a fusion of swing and jazz that lives up to its title, because it will make you jump around like a flapper in the 1920’s.

A Thousand Faces Act II is truly a masterpiece. It is a testament to how far Beats Antique has come over the years, encompassing countless genres from many different time periods. Do yourself a favor, stream and download the album here!

Click here for FREE download of Beats Antique – A Thousand Faces – Act 2

Here is A Thousand Faces – Act 1, the first half of Beats Antique’s two part concept album: