2019 pt. 1

James Blake - Assume Form

*******HIGHEST RECS*******

Coercing him a bit more out of the sad electro-soul shadows are Metro+MCs with doses of midnight bounce and Rosalia for a duet so warm-n-delicate it sounds like they're slow-dancing. However the true boost here by far is Blake's newfound partaking in mutual love and companionship -- all at once giddy, reluctant, open, bashful; a burgeoning repentant recluse calmly in awe. Forever the fragile and frigid fellow, his hopefulness and happiness and capacity for a life-change feels cozy but careful, readily summoning the gorgeous and romantic but has trouble moving past hesitance and the bewilderment that he ever got here in the first place. Choice assessments for when you stop being a ghost in a shell and fall for another human being: "Now you can feel everything / Doesn't it seem more natural?", "When you can't believe your luck / You're with a friend", "I thought I might be better dead but I was wrong", "Let's go home and talk shit about everyone." 8/10

Nkisi - 7 Directions

*******HIGHEST RECS*******

Each one of these 7 directions i.e. roman-numericaled techno tracks casually mesmerizes, and despite their near-neverending rhythm patterns trick you into thinkin' they're sparse. It's stark sure, rather simplistic and trying. But solidly-n-sneakily she stacks subtleties and complexity aplenty inside these lengthy bass-beat abysses. To follow up the curt cryptic-club Kill EP with this is a legit leap I'd say -- 6+minute stretches of smoky subdued-yet-not house done with ease, a few moments that actually awe, the mechanically fixed meshing with the hand-done random, keeping up with dat cryptic. That ol panning laser worm never hurt neither. 7.5/10

Veldes - Flameless

Seldom should black metal of any breed sound so, er, flameless. Not that its sheen ain't regularly pretty-n-pummeling or he don't bring the overall genre-given goodz; albeit in his overly automated and rather boilerplate way. But this is precise to the point of lassitude, predictable and calculated to a languid fault. Tries so earnestly to be epic but is oft too restrained+rigorous to bear real vigor or emotion. It does get me groanin' during both soft and loud stuff though, so there's that. Perhaps I'd prefer an abyss. 5.5/10

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21 Savage - i am > i was 6/10

Boogie - Everything's For Sale 6.5/10

Deerhunter - Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared? 6/10

Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow 6.5/10

Future - Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD 5/10

Soilwork - Verkligheten 7/10

William Tyler - Goes West 5.5/10