The Austin-based project, helmed by the enigmatically monikered Mikey2Hats, demonstrates a refreshing disregard for genre boundaries that would make Kevin Shields weep with joy. Marcus Praed's analogue Mini Moog squelches and burbles beneath Julio Figueroa's splashy percussion like some fever dream of 1980s soul filtered through a kaleidoscope of cosmic debris. The production, split between Austin, London, and a 16th-century German grain mill, carries the dusty warmth of vintage equipment handled with loving irreverence.
Stewart's decision to tackle falsetto vocals for the first time proves inspired rather than foolhardy. His voice floats above the mix with the weightless confidence of someone who's realised that musical risks are worth taking, even when they involve "pretending to be Pharrell Williams for five minutes." The Arabic-inflected vocal sample that punctuates the track's midsection was apparently "a goof we loved and kept" – precisely the kind of spontaneous decision that elevates good songs into memorable ones.
The philosophical underpinning – eclipse-watching meditations on starlight and temporal displacement – could easily veer into sixth-form poetry territory, yet Stewart's cosmic musings feel genuine rather than pretentious. His observation that "if the light from the stars ever stops shining, it would have happened a long time ago" captures both the vastness of the universe and the immediacy of the dance floor.
"It Reaches Us" operates on that peculiar frequency where Chemical Brothers' beat science meets TV on the Radio's art-rock ambition, seasoned with the kind of groove that made Soul Train essential viewing. The track builds momentum not through conventional dynamics but through an accumulation of textural details – each synth stab, each rhythmic accent adding another layer to its hypnotic spell.
The recording's "first take magic dust" philosophy permeates every element. Nothing feels overworked or second-guessed, giving the track an organic vitality that studio perfectionism often smothers. This is dance music with dirt under its fingernails, electronic experimentation that remembers to pack a beating heart alongside its circuit boards.
If "It Reaches Us" represents the opening salvo from the forthcoming album "Mikey2Hats Birthday," we can expect October's full-length to deliver a similarly intoxicating blend of cosmic consciousness and earthbound groove. For now, this single stands as a compelling argument that the best electronic music happens when musicians stop trying to fit into predetermined categories and start following their most peculiar instincts.
Stewart invites us to "come join me in my world for a few minutes." Consider the invitation enthusiastically accepted.
Mike Stewart Theory – "It Reaches Us" is released August 21, 2025 on all digital platforms. The full album "Mikey2Hats Birthday" follows October 17, 2025.