Electronic music has always been a space for sonic experimentation, but few artists take it to the conceptual level of Alien Alarms. With the release of the new single The Handles Turn on March 7, 2025, Alien Alarms continues pushing boundaries, blending glitchy electronic beats with deep social commentary. The brainchild of producer and composer Jim Purbrick, this track is not just music—it’s a mechanical fever dream infused with existential dread and a call to arms for those trapped in the relentless grind of modern life.
Purbrick, a veteran of the electronic scene since the ’90s, has consistently found ways to merge technology with message-driven music. His past releases on Formation Records saw him experimenting with jungle and drum & bass, but since becoming involved in climate activism in 2019, he has shifted his focus to creating electronic compositions that speak to larger social and political themes. Through Alien Alarms, he has crafted a sound that melds 19th-century poetry, philosophy, and literature with modern-day sonic chaos.
The Handles Turn began with a simple yet striking concept: the thoughts of an automaton, endlessly cycling through its mechanical routine, dreaming of escape before realizing that revolution—not resignation—is the answer. The track’s inspiration came from a visit to The Mechanical Circus exhibit at the Hove Museum of Creativity, where Purbrick recorded the rhythmic sounds of cranking handles on old machines. These field recordings became the foundation of the song, layered over with Flying Lotus-inspired beats and eerie synth textures.
At first listen, the track seems playful, almost whimsical. The groove is built around an off-kilter rhythm, giving it an organic, almost accidental feel—like a machine wobbling under the weight of its own constraints. But as the song progresses, the theme takes a darker turn. What starts as a quirky reflection on repetitive labor morphs into a striking metaphor for capitalism’s relentless cycle. It’s no surprise that, despite initially aiming for a more personal and locally inspired project, Alien Alarms once again found itself confronting the broader, inescapable struggles of systemic oppression.
The production process behind The Handles Turn is as unconventional as its message. Recorded at Alien Alarms’ Brighton-based studio, the track uses Ableton Live to manipulate those initial field recordings, crafting a groove that doesn’t conform to typical electronic music structures. Instead of rigid quantization or predictable swung rhythms, Purbrick leans into a “wonky” groove, making the track feel fluid and slightly uneasy, as if it’s teetering on the edge of collapse. He also employs triplets and granular processing during the bridge and coda, adding to the track’s unpredictable, mechanical feel.
Beyond the music itself, The Handles Turn is accompanied by an equally thought-provoking music video. Constructed using Max For Live, the video blends frenetic edits with audio-reactive visuals, bringing its themes to life with footage of Lego minifigures—automatons slowly being worn down until they become skeletons wielding pitchforks in revolution. It’s a haunting, absurd, yet deeply poignant visual representation of the track’s message.
Alien Alarms has made a name for itself not just with its music, but through live performances that blur the line between concert and political rally. Recent shows at More Kicks Than Friends in Cardiff, Splitting The Atom at Brighton’s Green Door Store, and Art Of Action in London have drawn in audiences who appreciate music that both challenges and energizes. With upcoming shows at Monomania in Brighton and Machine Learning in Hove, Alien Alarms is poised to continue spreading its unique fusion of electronic beats and radical thought.
Since its inception, Alien Alarms has built a reputation for making electronic music with purpose. From 0 To 1, which delved into the intersection of AI and breakbeats, to Utopia Or Dystopia?, a politically charged album that confronted activism and despair, the project has never shied away from difficult themes. Now, The Handles Turn carries that tradition forward, proving once again that electronic music can be more than just sound—it can be a tool for awakening, for resistance, and for revolution.
