'La Boheme' kicks off with serious intent : a dark off-kilter synth groove accompanied by minimal drums with instant effect. Samples creep in, distorted female vocals bounce around, and the result is something propulsive and exciting but with an air of menace that makes it all the more effective, and an excellent dancefloor tool for lower BPMs. 'Zelda' is shorter, mechanical and pulsing, like a twisted theme tune to a kids science programme around 1985. 'Planet Video' is a gorgeous bouncing electro stomper, stylistically similar to 'La Boheme' but with none of the dread, with a strong boom-clap beat under delirious melodic arpeggios, building to a bubbling electro euphoria, reminiscent of Plaid at their best. A different tone starts title track 'Machine City'. Again synth sounds dominate, but this is the soundtrack to an unmade John Carpenter film involving a night time chase through a broken down city, ramping up the tension with slow power. The beautiful closing track 'First Postcard From Tokyo' recalls the best moments from Teebs. A floating burbling melody ripples over light drums, vocal sounds waft in and out, and snatches of barely audible radio vocal cut across the stereo field. A triumphant end, feeling optimistic and awestruck.