A stunning ambient electronic record with occasional dub-techno breaks. You may know Leon Vynehall from his creative disco house releases. However, Leon Vynehall has always aspired for more than momentary dancefloor bliss, and, in his newest effort, he mines his past for his most forward thinking record yet. Inspired by his grandparents’ immigration from the UK to NYC, Leon Vynehall provides an intimate telling of their life-changing journey through layers of found sound, electronic ambience, and occasional dancey breaks. This record shows many fleeting moments of brilliance from an up-and-coming producer, and I’m excited to see what he puts out next.

Genre: oceanic ambience, migration, modern classical
RIYL: Bibio’s newest record, Andy Stott, Steve Reich
Fav Trax: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9
FCCs: Nah

From the Sea / It Looms (6:19) * - ambient layers of string arising from the sea, ebbs and flows, develops a sense of momentum, a great set opener, a ship sets sail
Movements (3:52) * - dank aqua jazz, watery brass, the open seas
Birds on the Tarmac (1:18) - an interlude: terminals, travel, anxious strings, arrival
Julia (2:26) - an interview about ambition and immigration, found sound feels
Drinking It in Again (3:46) - clicky squelchy percussion, deep jazz vibes again
Trouble - Parts I, II, & III (5:42) *** - a microcosm of the album, a centerpiece of sorts: bouncy layered strings fade into thumping claustrophobic banger which gives way to ambience
Envelopes (5:29) - very modern classical vibes, steady drum beat with huge orchestral sweeps of strings
English Oak (4:27) ** - anxious string intro drops out into dancefloor jam which then fades into strings again, structurally similar to Trouble
Ice Cream (4:50) *** - gorgeous ambient sweet, human vocals layered with birds chirping, the first spring breaks through after a hard New York winter
It Breaks (2:17) - first real piano keys, sweet and short closer