W: April Jackson. I: Ariane Kiks

With BREAK, Max Baby solidifies his reputation as an exciting force guided by his synaesthesia and instinctive creative drive. Moving beyond his debut, the EP successfully fractures his sonic world, creating a richer, more emotional, and highly unpredictable experience. For listeners seeking a challenging, groove-heavy, and ultimately cathartic alternative rock sound—one that is both intimately crafted and universally charged—BREAK is an essential listen

Max Baby's new EP, BREAK, released via Animal63, is a compelling and complex follow-up to his debut, showcasing a Parisian multi-instrumentalist who is confidently refining his signature blend of post-modern indie and alt-electronics

BREAK is an exercise in controlled chaos and textured immersion. Having been recorded in the historic Greasy Studios, the EP carries a unique atmosphere, rooted in live instrumentation but pushed through a modern, glitchy filter.

Rhythmic Focus: True to its title and Max Baby’s stated intent, the EP is built around live-played "breaks" and "breakbeat" patterns. This foundation provides intoxicating, off-kilter rhythms that propel the songs with seismic basslines and kinetic energy.

Sonic Palette: Max Baby successfully "expands his sonic palette," introducing a blend of heavier guitars and a wider range of vintage synths (from the '70s to the '90s). His "signature icy tones" remain, but they are now complemented by warmer, dirtier textures. The use of a vintage '90s harmonizer (like the one Imogen Heap used on "Hide and Seek") on a track like "Mirror" points to a meticulous, experimental approach to sound design.

Aesthetic: The music is described as a "rich tapestry of textured, immersive sonics," perfectly capturing the collision of "post-modern indie collides with alt-electronics that crackles with chaos and charisma," as noted by Dork.