M.K. Khan - Almost Beautiful

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

M.K. Khan’s Almost Beautiful tells the story of a grand competition between robots and humans for supremacy in extreme sports. The artist weaves together his skillful guitar performances with atmospheric and fascinating synths to tell the tale of the battle between the robots and the humans. The richly layered sounds, along with the ear-pleasing melodies and aural storytelling, bring a depth and listening pleasure to this album.

One cannot talk about Almost Beautiful without mentioning M.K. Khan’s guitar chops. His playing is fluid and dynamic, with expression and feeling, as he unfolds intricate solos and well-composed melodies. The way in which he chooses guitar tones allows for excellent evocations of mood and emotion, while he conveys the album's message with smooth skill.

Another crucial element of Almost Beautiful is the way in which M.K. Khan creates atmosphere through different sonic components. The mixing of the guitar sounds with fascinating and varied synth textures results in a contrast between the more robotic and mechanical and the purely creative and heartfelt. The end result is music that reveals the different facets of the storytelling while showcasing M.K. Khan’s tasteful ability to choose the best sounds.

I am also drawn in by Almost Beautiful’s melodic strength. M.K. Khan writes melodies that are engaging and full of life. They are able to transmit the mood-related elements of the story with precision and beauty. I enjoy the way in which M.K. Khan can move a melody through different emotional states and sensations within the space of one track.

The album's message is also something I find edifying. In this era of domination by artificial intelligence and social media, the notion of emphasizing human creativity and endeavor is more important than ever. I can get behind the spirit of this music.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Victory Lap” comes into being as M.K. Khan’s guitar cries out with bright vigour and the drums batter and rebound. The guitar flies out with dynamism before a mysterious floating synth carries a gently touching melody and the guitar leaps with orchestra hits flashing in the distance. The piano notes are effervescent and easygoing as the guitar cries out with passion and joy, infusing the music with triumphant positivity.

The blasting orchestra hits add radiance as bubbling bass rumbles and again the brightly shining guitar flies with uplifting, celebratory life. Piano notes cascade and gleam, tripping through the music as the thunderous guitar and battering drums add more power. The melody carried on the guitar is full of lively emotion and a sense of progress, while the piano adds a skipping lightness, filling me with a sense of freedom as it dances. The orchestra hits tower and the drums explode as the deeply rippling bass oscillates with rich sound before the track ends.

An explosive, popping drumbeat moves with angular synth and intertwining guitar to begin “For the People.” Ethereal synth hovers with a peaceful luminosity as a broken voice twitches along with record scratches. Majestically rising synth drifts past with a caress, drawing me into it. M.K. Khan’s guitar has sharpness and bite as it slices and now an open-voiced synth winds with elegant and haunting motion.

The drums continue to pulse unevenly along with the dense bass as a gritty guitar cuts in and floating notes wander with graceful simplicity. Quickly twirling, glimmering synth spins past and the sound of waves sweeping shifts. Tightly twisted record scratches move along with a meditatively gliding synth and the broken voice calls out again. The track ends on glittering notes and cleanly cutting drums.

“Party at Zach and Erving's” opens as cymbals clash, guitar snarls and triumphant synth blares with uplifting dynamism. M.K. Khan’s guitar sings with thrilling vitality and intertwines with complexity as it cascades while the drums pulse with steady motion. A piano adds motion in the distance while the trumpeting synth flashes with dramatic luminescence and the low end expands. Lusciously roaming guitar sings out while the brassy synth glistens. I enjoy the nobility and growing excitement in the guitar melody.

Now a quickly twirling arpeggio moves with the growling guitar that slashes as the drums pulsate. M.K. Khan’s guitar leaps again, swirling and flying, imbued with unstoppable strength as the arpeggios continue to speed. Once again the synth calls out, full of nobility, as the entangling notes below it glitter. The open-sounding percussion moves as the guitar weaves a bright filigree of encouragement before the song ends.

Drums erupt and a guitar bursts with whirling enthusiasm to kick off “Frosty Chocolate Milkshakes.” M.K. Khan’s guitar carries a melody full of thrilling joy as it spins out above the cascading drums. The battering drums and accelerating beat move as the wildly leaping synth jumps into a melody full of unstoppable motion and celebratory feelings.

The drums are a rapid rush as the synth weaves a complex pattern and the drums shatter as the guitar growls, charging into a solo that exudes muscle and drama. The gruff bass is joined by a synth that speeds past, glittering as it flies and the electric guitar howls again in a minor key melody that thrills me and fills me with a sense of possibility. Trickling xylophone rapidly flickers before the track charges to an end.

“New Chucks” opens as the groove of the low end swings and slap bass adds a funky quality as orchestra hits explode. The drums swing smoothly while a widely drifting, caressing synth carries a wistful, nostalgic memory in the melody and M.K. Khan’s guitar climbs with gripping life and a funky swing.

Horn-like synth intertwines with lustrous effulgence as it carries the jazz-inflected melody above the low-end pulse. The orchestra hits add radiance as a slipping synth swirls and bends with surrounding motion, while the wildly varied percussion is joined by slap bass that pops as the hollow drums tap.

In the distance, swelling chords add a soft sunset illumination and the groove moves again. I enjoy the overall funk and chill of this track. It ends on the guitar flying out, reaching for the stars before it grows quiet.

Orchestra hits burst with massive strength as the guitar and drums explode to force “Cherry Boy” forward. A brassy synth contributes scintillating effulgence as the drums burst and a tiny, glowing synth flickers past. The lead synth carries a melody that explodes with victorious life and M.K. Khan’s guitar swirls wildly as it flies forward.

The drums are steady and strong while the guitar cries out with passion and dynamism. Record scratches wriggle as the colossal bass unfolds. Rounded, flicking notes briefly skip and the fierce bass and widely charging drums move on.

The lead synth melody is full of adventurous life, giving me the impression of a classic Japanese role-playing game theme. The drums add shape while the elevated synth carries the noble melody and chimes shimmer as the track ends.

“Planet Indigo” starts as calming notes wash over me, accompanied by a distantly twinkling synth and the rush of windy sounds. Luscious bass continues to pulse as the digital-sounding notes wander and a delicate melody unfolds on a string-like synth with tranquility and grace. The music reaches out to curl soft tendrils around me and soothe my mind.

The drums pulse gently as the elevated, silky-smooth synth sails past with a melody that lifts me and transports me through the clouds. M.K. Khan’s guitar cascades with serenity and swirling sounds illuminate the distance. As the guitar shimmers, warmth oozes from it and quickly rushing drums move with darker bass.

The force increases as panpipes move through the music with an ethereal airiness and the drums add guidance. Computerized notes entangle as the drumbeat continues. After a drum flourish, piano chords add tender strength as they flicker. The track ends as the panpipes glide, the encouraging, laid-back guitar sings and the strings drift softly.

“Goonda Boulevard” opens with active, ear-grabbing percussion that throbs as the thunderous guitar explodes. The drums move with ferocious dynamism and the guitar winds with mad strength and minor-key darkness while the bass snarls. Broadly echoing, scintillating synth leaps into a thrilling melody as the guitar lashes out again.

A twisting synth moves in a snaky melody, adding haunting sensations while the percussion explodes with a unique sonic signature. M.K. Khan’s guitar unwinds into intricately intermingling notes that twirl before the victorious synth echoes and the drums batter. The descending synth is joined again by the churning guitar and a nasal-sounding, wriggling synth dances before the song ends.

Mechanically shifting sounds and threatening bass move to kick off “Dragons in Cucamonga.” The bass seethes as the metallic noises move and ferociously battering drums slice. A piano melody reflects thrilling strength as the guitar erupts with volcanic motion and intensity, cascading while the rushing low end smashes hard. The bass towers as the guitar howls with unstoppable liveliness and the thunderous low end is cut by metallic clanking.

The music’s raw energy tears at me with razor claws as the guitar rings out, imbuing the music with a sense of feral vitality. As the drums break, the guitar climbs and the bass looms with ominous import. The piano melody dances again, lightening the mood, but danger is never far away in the huge bass. The low end continues to rush and burst before the track ends with imposing power and snarling guitar.

“C.D.R.E.A.M.” starts as gigantic bass rumbles while fragile chimes shimmer and a melancholy, almost oboe-like synth drifts in the distance. The computerized chimes have a double sound as they levitate and air sweeps past. A clean synth shines while the undulating bass shifts and chimes flick past in easy motion.

A gently triumphant quality fills the music as the track swells and a glockenspiel carries the yearning and dreamy melody, full of hope and potential, above the dense bass. I feel that humanity’s hope and promise are beautifully embodied in the melody here.

Now the percussion ticks softly and the chiming sound carries the tender melody. A sense of nobility spills from the track now, rising up with pride and majesty, carrying the song to an end and filling my heart as it does so.

Conclusion

Almost Beautiful is a wondrous journey through a story of humanity triumphing over soulless mechanical creations. I enjoy the mixture of melody, lush harmony and intensely engaging synth sounds that unfold this story and immerse me fully in it.