Traces

Blissful and immersive electronic compositions, (“”IDM”” if you will), the debut album from San Francisco producer Cahl Sel. Pitchfork notes that it “sounds like a lost ambient-techno classic from the ’90s” which is pretty spot on. Snappy drums, skittery melodies, unpredictable twists and turns…I could listen to this all day.

Try: 1, 3, 11, 4
FCC Clean (all tracks instrumental)
RIYL: µ-Ziq, Aphex Twin, Warp Records, Autechre, r/TheOverload

1. Muffled bass, snappy claps, a nice bounce, gorgeous rosy melodies
2. Slow-building abstract synth. A sparse beat kicks in at the halfway point
3. Cold, industrial buzzy intro leads into a bubbly effervescent drift-along
4. Snappy beat, pleasant stretchy synth melodies
5. Kaleidoscopic spiraling track with tendrils of synth and cascading chimes
6. Dubby liminal, haunting
7. Sparse funky beat with some lovely glitchy effects
8. Short wobbly ambient track
9. Squirmy and skittery
10. Deep, bottom-dwelling ambient piece peppered with blips and bloops
11. Open, loose, jazzy. Wandering synth and bright sunny xylophone
12. Smooth, serene, cinematic ambient. Really pretty outro