Label: Brace Yourself Records
Released: 17th March 2023
Known for her abrasive, uncompromising and intense live shows, there is sometimes a hurdle for artists like Nuha Ruby Ra when it comes to transferring what is captivating in the flesh onto record. ‘Machine Like Me’, Nuha’s hugely ambitious second EP, shrugs that worry off however with a series of captivating and hypnotic tracks that drill down into the sure-eyed intensity of her performances and craft something special.
From the opening moments of electrifying post-punk hypnosis of ‘My Voice’ onwards, there is something intoxicating and razor-sharp edge emanating through every moment. Performed almost entirely by herself, (something she alludes to on ‘Self Portraiture’, singing “I take the place of six men, and I’ll keep doing it again and again”), it’s an utterly truthful and undiluted message from an artist flexing every muscle. ‘In The Morning’, meanwhile, is a searing takedown of unpleasant men in guitar bands, but one that does it with a knowing half-smile. The bass-heavy ‘Rise’ slams through your speakers in a way that’s going to be shaking your windows for weeks afterwards.
Make no mistake, ‘Machine Like Me’ is confrontational and in-your-face, challenging and intense past the point of no return. But if you are willing and able to get into its frequency, it’s unlike pretty much anything else out there right now. A late night, after-hours’ creature of the night’ type of listen, one that’s eye-opening and ear-rattling in all the best ways.
