Micah

This is a fine listen, I really like the ethos around Blessed but her solo productions are pretty hit or miss for me. I got to see her DJ under her previous moniker, and she was fantastic — I've been a fan since.

This album has some great tracks, unfortunately everything good was released as a single and has already been through the rotation for me.

Serotonin Moonbeams, Happier, Carry Me Higher <-- give these ones a listen

What a fresh take by Shigeto! It's a little curious that Apple Music has this album labeled as 'R&B/Soul' but I guess if you take that genre broadly, it fits.

Shigeto shows on 'Cherry Blossom Baby' how alluring consistent evolution for an artist can feel when it's done well. On one hand, this is a fresh take on a Shigeto album with more features and more melodic groove than others, but it still possesses the signature interlocking and layering rhythm that Zachary is known for.

I would highly suggest giving this one a listen. There are gems throughout. My only complaint is that the most tracks feels like they end quicker than they should. Maybe we can… More

Look, if you like Lane 8's brand of gentle deep house, you'll like this. It doesn't offer anything new that we haven't heard before, but it's tightly produced and soothing for when you need a warm blanket while you stare at the ceiling.

I'm pleasantly surprised at how this turned out — I was feeling pretty skeptical with the singles that he released leading up to the full album... but it pulled together really nicely.

The Apple Music review of this album nails one thing... Jamie is definitely chasing the club trends with this album. It doesn't feel as monumental as In Colour. It really doesn't define any unique space, but fits nicely in with the other club kiddies. Lots of great tunes that are easy to dance too, heavy with rinsed vocal features.

Apple's review mentioned something about how this was inspired by 'dreams of how it would feel to play big tunes for audiences again' after the COVID lockdowns, which feels a… More

This has been on my 'highly anticipated' list all year, and now that it's fully arrive, I have it on repeat. Full stop. Leading up to the release, I was obsessed with 'Birth4000'. And I still am. And in 2022 I listened to 'Vocoder' over and over and over again.

This is not your typical Floating Points. It's less jazz, more club. As another reviewer noted, it "goes pretty fucking hard." But I'm welcoming this deviation from the norm, and I happily embrace it alongside 'Crush' and 'Elaenia'.

I deducted half a star because a) so many of the bangers on this were released in 2022 and 2023; b) idk that the 'club mix' added much to Vocoder; and c)… More

Look, I love the moody Mr Blake as much as the next person, but there’s something about Assume Form that I just can’t get sick of. Every listen and every track just hit somewhere special. It’s a true pop ascension for Blake that feels honest to who he is; masterfully crafted and articulate without the typical watered down mess that comes from most seasoned artists looking for a way to increase their audience.

This was highly anticipated on my lists as days before its release, Jon Hopkins dropped a masterful “Early Mornings” mix for Apple Music, featuring a range of genres that I assumed would be a teaser to the influences for this album. At moments It was almost reminiscent of Immunity.

That turned out not the be the case. This is entirely different: a deep and meditative soundscape more akin to a hero’s journey through a dystopian future than any kind of club tracks.

I think that it requires a listen; and it requires you to sit and give it your full attention. You wind up drifting off in thought at times, especially as the album drives home basically only one… More

This was my most listened to album of 2023, contenting with many other UKG greats. As noted by other reviews, this straddles the line well between club and at home listening. ‘Good Lies’ and ‘So U Kno’ are top tracks for sure, but even sleepers like ‘Walk Thru Water’ and ‘Calling Out’ will have you hooked.