3.
Leon Vynehall
‘Blush’
A highlight on an excellent second album
Brighton producer Leon Vynehall has followed up his solid debut Music for the Uninvited with Rojus (Designed To Dance), an album that builds on that confident long-player with a long-lasting impression. Over 50 minutes, Vynehall showcases his talent for creating melodic and moving house music drawing from soul and jazz textures.
A single favourite track is hard to pick after a few listens but ‘Blush’ is an immediate draw, a rolling percussive track that builds up towers of synths and synthesized strings to a euphoric level, as sounds buzz and whizz past the brain.
4.
M83 feat. Mai Lan
‘Go!’
Unabashed retro pop.
Seven albums deep and Anthony Gonzales has certainly being inking a transformation in his music since 2001. Junk, released on Friday builds on the retro styles of Saturdays = Youth and Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming by delving deeper into ’70s and ’80s music: prog, funk, synthpop and elevator muzak.
The album’s closest comparison is fellow Frenchies Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. Junk isn’t as engaging, as pompous and as pristine as that album, but like all recent M83 albums, there are clear standouts to cherry pick, including ‘Go’ which features none other than guitar hero Steve Vai providing the excessive solo on a cheesy and enjoyable anthem.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
