Continua

Description

When, at the dawn of the 2010s, a handful of adventurous DIY producers were experimenting with the fusion of instrumental hip-hop and electro? Alongside Kutmah, The Gaslamp Killer, and Flying Lotus, the discreet Jason Chung, aka Nosaj Thing, has always showcased a unique style, cultivating minimalism akin to Philip Glass and vaporous atmospheres, certainly less dark and heavy than those of his peers. At 37, after working behind the scenes with the cream of American rap, from Bus Driver to Kendrick Lamar and Kid Cudi, and featuring the star Chance The Rapper on "Fated" (2015), he is back with a fifth album. A glance at the track listing initially made us suspicious: no less than nine guests, including the crystal-voiced singer Kazu Makino, the South Korean indie-pop band Hyukoh, and singers Toro Y Moi and Panda Bear, heroes of the fleeting chillwave subcurrent blending synthesizers and ecstatic pop songs. We've seen so many talented artists lacking inspiration, retreating into the comfort of duos that fizzle out... But the wise Nosaj knows how to measure. In twelve compositions with delicately nocturnal atmospheres, he reconnects with the magic and freshness of his first two albums, "Drift" (2009) and "Home" (2013). He envelops the whispered vocals, close to the mic, of each of his guests in a production that is both expansive and muted, set against soft beats. That night is sweet, as gentle as a faint memory.