After a four-year hiatus, Mk.gee’s sonic alchemy redefines boundaries of sound and spectacle in his most unpredictable project yet.

It feels like the ’80s again… synthwave aesthetics are all over TikTok, vinyl sales are booming, and flair denim is overpopulating my explore page. But something is terribly wrong.

What begins as catchy, upbeat melodies gradually descends into chaotic, disorienting soundscapes. Machines whirr, trains blare, and breaking glass echoes in the background, leaving you tapping your feet while something deeper unsettles you. Mk.gee’s latest record Two Star & the Dream Police is a time capsule buried in a dream, blending nostalgia with a creeping sense of unease. It’s a controlled chaos that demands attention, forcing listeners to question what’s real and what’s imagined.

So after a long, mysterious absence, Michael Gordon’s moniker returns, delivering a follow-up to 2020’s A Museum of Contradiction. The mage has re-emerged, and his spellbinding, shape-shifting artistry has left many bewitched. His latest work is turning heads, drawing in new fans, and adding to his ever-growing cult following.

Gordon, a 27-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Linwood, New Jersey, is known for reinventing his sound with each release, leaving listeners unsure of what to expect next. For four years, his cult-like fan base waited, eager to see what new direction he would take. Two Star and The Dream Police amplifies this unpredictability, offering a collection of tracks so distinct that it’s hard to believe they were crafted by the same hand. Earlier this year, during an appearance on NTS Radio, Gordon revealed that his vision for the album was to explore the concept of “liminal space,” where the familiar collides with the strange.

His vision isn’t confined to the album alone—it extends into his increasingly notorious live performances, where the boundary is blurred even further.

Photos by Isaiah Pate (@isaiahpate)

As Gordon remarked in a recent DAZED interview, “I just want to be known for making the best music. Not for anything else, really.” This sentiment not only reflects his refusal to be boxed into categories but also speaks to the way his performances defy simple expectations. His live shows, much like his albums, reject predictability. The experience is less about personal connection with the artist and more about the atmosphere he creates—a delicate balance between chaos and precision, where each moment feels on the edge of collapse yet impossibly cohesive.

Much like the tracks on Two Star, each live show radiates its own distinct energy, with subtle variations in set lists and improvisations that reflect the album’s interplay between comfort and the unknown. After witnessing Mk.gee’s first sold-out show at The Fonda in LA, I found myself compelled to chase that same thrill in Atlanta and Durham. No two performances felt quite the same, each one a new layer of the album’s shifting soundscape.

Despite this being Mk.gee’s first headlining tour, Mk.gee had no issue selling out The Fonda – twice. Only the 2nd stop on his Spring 2024 tour, the anticipation of the sold-out crowd was matched by the electric energy that built into a sonic crescendo before the first note was even played. In Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse, the audience’s interaction, paired with the band’s more experimental approach, underscored the playful chaos that defines Gordon’s work. Meanwhile, Durham’s intimate Motorco Hall fostered a more personal, homecoming-like atmosphere, allowing for a deeper connection with the music. Across all performances, Gordon’s ability to shift the energy of the room reinforced his intention to embrace unpredictability, a hallmark of both his live shows and the album itself.

The common denominator that I couldn’t help notice after each of these shows was the confusion on faces during and after the performances. Long droning transitions between tracks and the harsh throbbing bass was something that one wouldn’t expect, But for me, this is the pull. Like the album itself, the performances kept the audience in a state of flux, continually blurring the line for what a traditional concert should feel like. 

Photo by Isaiah Pate (@isaiahpate)

Themes like this aren’t just a part of the live experience—it’s woven into the fabric of the album itself. Mk.gee masterfully transfers this unpredictability from the stage to the studio, where listeners are similarly challenged by shifting textures and sonic layers that keep them guessing.

Two Star’s first singles, Candy and How Many Miles, echo the innovation of artists like Jai Paul, with their laser-like guitar tones and intricate, foregrounded instrumentals. Tracks like I Want and Breakthespell further explore the album’s thematic concept of “liminal space,” drawing familiarity. These songs cleverly interpolate elements from iconic tracks like Every Breath You Take and Crimson and Clover, aligning their sonic structure with that of their predecessors while pushing them into new, unfamiliar territories.

Gordon’s production techniques further blur the line between the accessible and the experimental. His sonic choices—ranging from unpredictable sound effects and surreal production decisions to lyrics that are deliberately ambiguous—encourage the listener to question what they’re truly hearing. Take, for instance, the eerie wail that opens Rylee and I, which immediately segues into a jarring, distorted percussion loop. The effect feels less like a rhythm section and more like a primal beast tamed by Gordon’s guitar, a Fender Jaguar that has become his primary tool for navigating these sonic landscapes. This controlled chaos continues in Alesis, a track that, at first, seems like a straightforward pop-rock groove, only to reveal its otherworldly undercurrent through spectral background vocals and a dreamy, ethereal pad that emerges near the track’s conclusion.

Video by Punch Buggy (@pnchbuggy)

While the album boasts no official features, the opening track New Low stands out, bolstered by the subtle influence of frequent collaborator Dijon. The song’s gritty electronic drum loop initially disorients, its unsteady pocket made even more ungrounded by the wild rhythm of a soulful tambourine. But it’s Are You Looking Up—the album’s crown jewel—that has captured both old fans and new converts alike. With its hypnotic, intertwining guitar melodies and Gordon’s emotionally raw, dynamic vocal performance, the track embodies the restless spirit of Two Star & The Dream Police. It’s no surprise the song has found life on TikTok, pulling a fresh wave of listeners into Mk.gee’s world.

Through Two Star, Mk.gee continues to refine and expand his sonic palette. This album is not at all a continuation of A Museum of Contradiction, but a bold step forward. Where the latter was rooted in drum grooves and ambient textures, Two Star & The Dream Police feels more like a meticulously designed maze, constantly shifting and changing, demanding to be navigated over and over again. And always, Gordon’s Fender Jaguar is the key, cutting through the space between familiar and unknown.