Max Tundra - Mastered By Guy At The Exchange

Review by Taryn Jones

Album Review: Mastered By Guy At The Exchange by Max Tundra If you’ve ever wondered what happens when IDM, chiptune, and synth-pop collide in a blender operated by an eccentric genius, look no further than Max Tundra’s 2002 release, Mastered By Guy At The Exchange. This record is equal parts playful, disorienting, and oddly beautiful—a sprawling patchwork of electronic experimentation that somehow feels both meticulously crafted and gloriously unhinged. Released via labels like Tigerbeat6 and Domino across the US, UK, and Russia, it’s the kind of album that makes you question your own taste while simultaneously convincing you it’s one of the best things you’ve ever heard. The brainchild of Ben Jacobs (who wears more hats here than a milliner at a royal wedding), this album doesn’t just push boundaries—it gleefully obliterates them. From writing to performing, producing to playing nearly every instrument, Jacobs is the mad scientist behind the operation. And let’s not forget Becky Jacobs’ haunting vocals or contributions from voices like Alom Shaha and Lucy Kendra, adding layers of texture to the chaos. But credit where it’s due: mastering engineer Guy Davie ties it all together with a polish that lets the weirdness shine without losing cohesion. Now, onto the tracks. Out of the 14 songs (plus some cheeky repeats with different capitalization—looking at you, "MBGATE" and "61over"), two stand out as unforgettable for very different reasons. First up: “Labial.” It’s hard to describe without sounding like you’re losing your mind, but imagine if a vintage arcade game fell in love with a Casio keyboard and they had a baby raised by robots. The track bursts open with bright, erratic synth stabs before settling into something almost danceable—but only if you’re willing to flail awkwardly on the floor. There’s a sense of controlled chaos here that worms its way into your brain, refusing to leave. You might not know why you’re humming it hours later, but trust me, you will be. Then there’s “Gondry,” which feels like stepping into a dream sequence directed by Michel Gondry himself. Named after the legendary filmmaker, the song pairs glitchy beats with lush melodies that swirl around like confetti caught in a fan. It’s the kind of tune that could soundtrack a montage of someone rediscovering their childhood toys—or maybe realizing those toys are sentient now. Either way, it’s weirdly emotional and sticks with you long after the final note fades. What’s wild about Mastered By Guy At The Exchange is how it refuses to sit still. One moment you’re bobbing your head to bouncy chiptune hooks; the next, you’re untangling experimental textures so dense they feel like solving a puzzle. Tracks like “Acorns” and “Lights” show off Jacobs’ knack for blending accessibility with leftfield quirks, while others like “Fuerte” veer into territory so uncharted you half-expect NASA to call him up for advice. In hindsight, this album feels less like a collection of songs and more like a journey through Ben Jacobs’ hyperactive imagination. Sure, it can get overwhelming at times, but isn’t that part of the charm? Listening to Mastered By Guy At The Exchange is like hanging out with a friend who talks a mile a minute about their latest obsession—you might not catch every detail, but you’ll walk away inspired and slightly breathless. And hey, here’s a random thought to leave you with: if aliens ever land on Earth and ask us to explain human creativity, I’d hand them this album. They’d probably beam me aboard just to figure out what the hell “chiptune” means.

Download Max Tundra - Mastered By Guy At The Exchange

Artist: Max Tundra
Album: Mastered By Guy At The Exchange

Electronic

2002

Rating: 3.0

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
Video
Images
Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
Formats
Companies
Credits
Notes
Barcodes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

Download

Filename: max-tundra-mastered-by-guy-at-the-exchange.zip

MP3 size: 56 mb
FLAC size: 763 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Pocket	0:59
Hilted	2:50
Lights	1:39
Merman	1:56
MBGATE	2:27
61Over	1:8
Gondry	3:26
Mbgate
Lysine	4:2
Labial	6:9
Acorns	3:26
Cabasa	7:12
61over	1:08
Fuerte	2:7

Video

Max Tundra - Hilted

Max Tundra - Lights

Max Tundra - Lysine

Max Tundra - Fuerte

Images

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Catalog Numbers

WIGCD112, ZAKCD034
WIGLP112
WIGCD112P
MEOW062
WIGCD112

Labels

Domino, Zakat
Domino
Tigerbeat6

Listen online

ouvir online
lyssna på nätet
escuchar en línea
online luisteren
kuunnella verkossa
lytte på nettet
online anhören
ascolta in linea
écouter en ligne

Formats

CD
Album
Vinyl
LP
Test Pressing
Promo

Companies

Role	Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Domino Recording Co. Ltd.
Copyright (c)	Domino Recording Co. Ltd.

Credits

Role	Credit
Mastered By	Guy Davie
Performer	Ben Jacobs
Written-By	Ben Jacobs
Vocals	Becky Jacobs
Voice	Alom Shaha, Ben Payne, Lucy Kendra
Songwriter	Ben Jacobs
Instruments	Ben Jacobs

Notes

Recorded at The Electric Smile except drums recorded at Battenburg, piano recorded at Rachel And David's, harmonium and farfisa recorded at Notre Catford.
Произведено в России.
White Label which states "Test Pressing Not For Sale"
Promo version in a CDsingle case with different (only blue) artwork.
All songs published by Balatonic Music (administered by Bug Music).

Barcodes

Barcode (Text): 4 601250 323862
Barcode (Scanned): 4601250323862
Matrix / Runout: WIGCD112P - 27974 2061001
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L055
Mould SID Code: IFPI KA03
Rights Society: BIEM/MCPS
Label Code: LC10192
Barcode: 5034202011224

About Max Tundra

Ben Jacobs (born 7 June 1974), more commonly known by the stage name Max Tundra, is an English multi-instrumental musician, singer and music producer.

Real Name

Ben Jacobs

Name Vars

Tundra

Aliases

Ben Jacobs

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a fun fact: The album *Mastered By Guy At The Exchange* by Max Tundra is a wild mix of genres like IDM, chiptune, and synth-pop. It’s basically a musical playground. What makes it even cooler? The album was mastered by Guy Davie, hence the title, which is also part of the tracklist—twice! Tracks like "61Over" and "MBGATE" appear in both uppercase and lowercase versions. It’s like Ben Jacobs, the mastermind behind Max Tundra, wanted to keep things quirky and unpredictable. And get this: his sister Becky Jacobs added vocals, making it a bit of a family project. Released in 2002 across the US, UK, and Russia, this album still feels ahead of its time.

Comments

ceokevsf

2025-03-13

latina omg

dchangemaker

2025-03-12

caietelelumatskan

2025-03-11

x3 OMG this song. when I was in college, I happened to have heard this song from an origami video that I watched. I downloaded it, played it in a class I was teaching younger students, and they loved it. :D LOVE THIS SONG! MAKES FOR A GOOD LISTEN FOR KIDS. LOVE MAX! MAKE MORE!