Magic Pony Ride
| Magic Pony Ride | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 10 June 2022 | |||
| Length | 51:22 | |||
| Label | Planet Mu | |||
| Producer | Mike Paradinas | |||
| Μ-Ziq chronology | ||||
| ||||
Magic Pony Ride is a studio album by English record producer Mike Paradinas under the pseudonym μ-Ziq.[1] It was released on 10 June 2022 through his record label Planet Mu. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.
Background
Magic Pony Ride is Mike Paradinas' first studio album as μ-Ziq since Scurlage (2021).[2] According to The Guardian, the album drew inspiration from "the process of remastering his classic LP Lunatic Harness, as well as familial introspection and an idyllic holiday horse-riding in Iceland."[3] His daughter Elka provides vocals on "Picksing" and "Elka's Song".[4] "Galope" is dedicated to his late father.[5] Paradinas created the album entirely on a computer.[6]
Prior to the album's release, He released the Goodbye EP (2022)[7] and the Goodbye Remixes EP (2022).[8] After the album's release, he released the Hello EP (2022)[9] and the Galope EP (2023).[10]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 75/100[11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [4] |
| The Guardian | [3] |
| MusicOMH | [12] |
| Pitchfork | 6.5/10[13] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Magic Pony Ride received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 from 6 critic scores.[11]
Paul Simpson of AllMusic commented that "The beats on Magic Pony Ride are more inspired by jungle and breakbeat hardcore than anything Paradinas has recorded since the 2000s, but they aren't nearly as unhinged or manic as those on Lunatic Harness, and the melodies don't quite tap into the singular mixture of fear and excitement that made the previous album so riveting." Ben Devlin of MusicOMH stated, "Magic Pony Ride might not be the most ambitious record in the world, or in Paradinas' discography, but the music accomplishes its stated goals and is enjoyable in the process."[12]
Tayyab Amin of The Guardian commented that "Magic Pony Ride excels when it is carefree and cantering, losing its allure when it stops to let reality sink in."[3] Jude Noel of Pitchfork stated, "While Magic Pony Ride retains the gummy textures of his recent oeuvre, it is unusual in its overt nostalgia."[13]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mike Paradinas.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Magic Pony Ride (Pt.1)" | 3:50 |
| 2. | "Uncle Daddy" | 5:28 |
| 3. | "Picksing" | 1:48 |
| 4. | "Unless" | 6:09 |
| 5. | "Turquoise Hyperfizz" | 5:16 |
| 6. | "Galope" | 3:16 |
| 7. | "Goodbye" | 5:10 |
| 8. | "Brown Chaos" | 2:56 |
| 9. | "Shulem's Theme" | 4:23 |
| 10. | "Elka's Song" | 3:20 |
| 11. | "Magic Pony Ride (Pt.2)" | 3:09 |
| 12. | "Don't Tell Me (It's Ending)" | 6:36 |
| Total length: | 51:22 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[14]
- Mike Paradinas – production, performance
- Beau Thomas – mastering
- Ben Curzon – design
- Tyrone Williams – photography
Charts
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[15] | 35 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[16] | 31 |
References
- ^ Bush, John. "μ-Ziq". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ Murphy, Ben (12 July 2022). "How μ-Ziq's 'Lunatic Harness' blended genres to reshape the parameters of electronic music". DJ Mag. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ a b c Amin, Tayyab (10 June 2022). "μ-Ziq: Magic Pony Ride review – electronic producer canters into joy". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Magic Pony Ride - μ-Ziq". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ Eede, Christian (29 April 2022). "Mike Paradinas Details New μ-Ziq Album, 'Magic Pony Ride'". The Quietus. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ Cochrun, Kyle (23 August 2022). "Mike Paradinas on His IDM Sound From the 1990s to Now". PopMatters. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Goodbye | μ-Ziq". Bandcamp. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Goodbye Remixes | μ-Ziq". Bandcamp. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Hello | μ-Ziq". Bandcamp. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Galope | μ-Ziq". Bandcamp. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Magic Pony Ride by μ-Ziq". Metacritic. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ a b Devlin, Ben (10 June 2022). "μ-Ziq – Magic Pony Ride". MusicOMH. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ a b Noel, Jude (10 June 2022). "μ-Ziq: Magic Pony Ride". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ μ-Ziq (2022). Magic Pony Ride (CD booklet). Planet Mu.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
External links
- Magic Pony Ride at Discogs (list of releases)