Continua

Description

"When, at the dawn of the 2010s, a handful of adventurous producer-tinkerers experimented with the fusion of instrumental hip-hop and electronic music? Alongside Kutmah, The Gaslamp Killer, and Flying Lotus, the discreet Jason Chung, aka Nosaj Thing, has always shown a unique touch, cultivating minimalism à la Philip Glass and ethereal atmospheres, certainly less dark and heavy than those of his colleagues. At 37, after working behind the scenes with the cream of American rap, from Bus Driver to Kendrick Lamar and Kid Cudi, and inviting star Chance The Rapper on "Fated" (2015), he returns with a fifth album. A glance at the tracklist initially made us suspicious: no fewer than nine guests, including crystal-voiced singer Kazu Makino, South Korean indie-pop band Hyukoh, and singers Toro Y Moi and Panda Bear, heroes of the ephemeral chillwave subgenre blending synthesizers and ecstatic pop songs. We’ve seen so many good artists lacking inspiration, seeking refuge in the comfort of duets that fizzled out... But the wise Nosaj knows moderation. In twelve compositions with delicately nocturnal atmospheres, he recaptures the magic and freshness of his first two albums, "Drift" (2009) and "Home" (2013). He envelops the whispered, close-mic vocals of each of his guests with a production that is both expansive and muffled, set against a backdrop of padded beats. That night is soft, like a gentle memory."