Always With Me

Formerly Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Orlando Higginbottom is back with a new acronym name (TEED) for his 3rd album. The UK-born, now L.A.-based artist and producer has delivered a stripped-back electronic pop collection inspired by “the bittersweet blur of childhood summer holidays in France.” The tracks are lighter with fewer elements and breezy vocals, hinting at a New Wave vibe that features soft, subtle synths and a gentle electronic pulse. For most of the tracks, Higginbottom relied on a single polyphonic synthesizer. The goal was to largely move away from the club sound with tracks that have more emotional depth. RIYL: Bonobo, Caribou Four Tet or LCD Soundsystem.
— Francis

Recommended: 5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 4. No FCCs noted.

1. (4:50) Desire — Lush, French pop-infused track over a breezy, flowing soundscape with some spacey effects. ****
2. (3:38) In Darkness — Darker and more circular with a solid beat and swirling synths. ****
3. (4:38) My Melody — Shimmering, dreamy disco-infused pop. Reminiscent of Blood Orange.
4. (2:35) Ascent — Mesmerizing instrumental interlude. Shuffling drum track. Hypnotic, repetitive synths. A bit of indistinct, ghost-like backing harmonies. ***
5. (3:37) Piece Of Me — Bouncy and catchy, effortless New Wave-style synth pop. ****
6. (5:06) The Echo — Only club-style ‘banger,’ with an inviting danceable vibe — while maintaining the album’s atmospheric feel. ***
7. (3:42) Always With Me — Captivating instrumental, with a repetitive synth signature over an intricate rhythm. Morphs into a snug, cocoon-like soundscape a little more than halfway through.
8. (4:55) Come Tonight — Somewhat similar to the previous track, with a rich low end and energetic beat.
9. (3:26) Endless — Another airy, disco-influenced track with chirpy synths.
10. (4:46) Rekt — A skipping, syncopated song with pleasant vocals. Nice bass line in the trail-out.
11. (8:23) Start Again — A surrounding, cinematic soundscape that could serve as the instrumental backdrop for a film or TV production. Quietly meditative and sustaining over its 8+ minutes.