Search on DeBaser Reviews Downtempo

 A genre-blending journey from start to finish.

 Quantic masterfully fuses jazz, funk, and electronica into a timeless downbeat classic.

The review praises Quantic's debut album 'The 5th Exotic' for its seamless blend of genres. There's an emphasis on the album's groovy, downbeat nature and sophisticated jazz influence. It highlights Quantic's creativity and musical craftsmanship. The album receives a strong 4 out of 5 rating. Recommended as an essential listen for fans of genre-crossing music. Dive into the grooves of 'The 5th Exotic'—discover why Quantic’s debut is a must-listen for music lovers!

 Listening to this CD is somewhat like entering a small downtempo world, a hypnotic musical accompaniment to something that could be an anime or a video game.

 An album made of small, non-trivial instrumental frescoes, which - just for the melodies - might remind one of small classical music exercises, transplanted into a twilight, creepy, and in its own way minimal context.

Gnac's Friend Sleeping is a debut 1999 album by Mark Tranmer offering a unique post-rock and downtempo listening experience. The album blends restless, dissonant harmonies with minimal classical influences, creating hypnotic instrumental soundscapes. Tracks evoke atmospheres reminiscent of video game or anime backgrounds. The melancholic finale soothes the otherwise tense journey, making it a notable find for fans of atmospheric and instrumental music. Discover the hypnotic and restless atmosphere of Gnac's Friend Sleeping – listen now and get lost in its cinematic soundscapes.

 "Goosebumps."

 "We need people like Gianni Pedretti because they give us the certainty that the Italian music scene survives beyond the tabletop-constructed trends and the trappers born in the morning and guillotined in the evening."

Gianni Pedretti, known as Colloquio, presents a debut album rich in emotional power and poetic intimacy. Despite some youthful imperfections, the music blends lounge, minimalism, and jazz to create a unique 'contemporary chamber' sound. The album stands out amidst the fleeting Italian music trends, offering timeless depth and evocative storytelling. Tracks like 'Io e te Pier' and 'La dea dal trono d'acciaio' highlight Colloquio's refined songwriting and emotional impact. Explore Colloquio's heartfelt debut and experience a rare gem of Italian songwriting that defies fleeting trends—listen now!

 Iiris Vesik’s singing, characterized by very high pitches and capable of reaching extremely high octaves without being annoyingly affected but instead marked by an extraordinary flair and versatility.

 Download Spirit begins with Fever Dream Kids, a generational anthem that has all the credentials to become an instant classic.

Night Tapes, led by Estonian singer Iiris Vesik, crafts ethereal and richly textured dreampop fused with shoegaze and electronic elements. Their EP Download Spirit showcases Vesik's impressive vocal range and an innovative mix of genres. From atmospheric soundscapes to hypnotic melodies, the band's work is mature and evocative. The review highlights their evolution and growing potential in the post-Beach House dreampop scene. Discover Night Tapes' hauntingly beautiful Download Spirit and immerse yourself in a dreamlike fusion of shoegaze and electronic dreampop.

 "No fear, but hope, you’ll find me here / I leave a light on," Samuel tells us, capturing the song’s tension and hope.

 It closes like collapsing exhausted into Morpheus’s arms, struck by sudden, sweet, and restful sleep.

Kennebec’s 'Leaving the Canyons' is a midtempo folk-electronic track that stirs bittersweet nostalgia and hope. With Samuel T. Herring’s emotive vocals and a delicate Peruvian flute, the song captures fleeting moments, lost memories, and emotional growth. The review highlights the track’s rich atmosphere and heartfelt storytelling, making it a poignant musical journey. Listen to Kennebec’s 'Leaving the Canyons' and immerse yourself in a soulful journey through memory and emotion.

 "The Long and Short of It is indeed a charming 'second debut' for quickly, quickly, a work showing boundless potential and extraordinary creativity."

 The opening track, 'Phases,' is a riot of sounds and colors, a rollercoaster unfurling along jazz fusion coordinates and boasting numerous beautifully assembled sections.

Quickly, Quickly’s album 'The Long and Short of It' showcases Graham Jonson’s evolution from lo-fi hip-hop roots to a refined, genre-blending singer-songwriter style. The album features rich arrangements, jazz fusion elements, and emotional lyrics, highlighting his creative maturity. While the vocals have some limitations, the overall production and songwriting shine. The work marks a promising new chapter for Quickly, Quickly’s career. Discover Quickly, Quickly’s enchanting blend of genres—listen to 'The Long and Short of It' and experience a fresh musical journey.

 Space is just noise as much as the time of 'SpaceisOnlyNoise' is marked only by sounds.

 A kind of nebulous ambient-pop hovers, a controlled, oblique, remote melancholy where even brief minimalist sketches are fundamental pieces of the narrative continuum.

Nicolas Jaar's debut album 'Space Is Only Noise' is praised for its intricate blend of ambient, downtempo, and indie-pop sounds, creating a hypnotic and melancholic atmosphere. The review highlights the album's cohesion, experimental nature, and emotional resonance, comparing its narrative to an enchanting cityscape or cinematic experience. Jaar's artistry is celebrated as transformative and unique, making this album a standout in electronic music. Dive into the hypnotic world of Nicolas Jaar's 'Space Is Only Noise'—listen now for an unforgettable ambient experience.

 Listening, in reality, is not that simple. I mean really listening. Listening not just to fill your ears.

 The over 8 minutes of The Wood Bunch are a stunning and interminable stasis... a mantra repeated so much as to become a hallucination.

Bed's Spacebox is an atmospheric post-rock album that grows on the listener with repeated, focused listening. The band creates hypnotic, acoustic-driven soundscapes that balance fragility and solidity. Highlights include the nocturnal and bright moods across different tracks and a mesmerizing finale with 'The Wood Bunch.' This is a record that values space, silence, and subtle musical details. Dive into Bed's Spacebox to experience immersive post-rock atmospheres and subtle acoustic beauty.

 From the first notes of Daily Gazette, a sweet sensation of spleen will pervade your souls.

 Do not think of going anywhere, because under his breath, Pedrum knows that the world without us might even be better.

Paint is the first solo album by Pedrum Siadatian, known from the Allah-Las, that embraces a wistful, minimal lo-fi aesthetic. The album creates a timeless mood influenced by psychedelic and vintage sounds but deliberately avoids evolution or progression. While it offers moments of beauty and subtle experimentation, it ultimately stays in a contemplative stasis rather than moving forward. The review suggests the album is an introspective, sometimes melancholic journey rather than a dynamic breakthrough. Dive into Paint for a unique lo-fi psychedelic experience from Allah-Las’ Pedrum Siadatian—listen now and explore a timeless soundscape.

 "Music was the lamb that made a lion out of me."

 "Breath from Another is one of the best trip-pop experiments of the period."

Breath From Another, Esthero’s 1998 debut album, is celebrated as one of the best trip-hop experiments of its era. Produced by Martin McKinney, it blends hip-hop, electronics, and orchestral elements, creating a dreamy and hypnotic atmosphere. Despite limited commercial success, the album showcases Jenny-Bea Englishman’s unique vocals and strong songwriting. Tracks like 'Heaven Sent' and 'That Girl' highlight its range from dark rock to pop sensibilities. This review invites listeners to rediscover a hidden gem from the 90s trip-hop scene. Listen to Esthero’s captivating debut and explore the lush soundscape of 90s trip-hop today!

 The album by The Cinematic Orchestra... has the merit of fusing past, present, and future, and does so with a contamination that reflects a globalized world.

 The stars continue to illuminate the path of Every Day, even two decades later, and they will continue to illuminate it for a long time to come.

The review praises The Cinematic Orchestra's album Every Day for its innovative fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and electronic elements. It highlights the artistic maturity achieved through collaborations with Fontella Bass and Roots Manuva. The album is noted for its intricate arrangements and blending of tradition with modern sounds. It's described as a timeless work that honors and renews musical heritage while reflecting a globalized world. Dive into the transformative sounds of Every Day and experience a seamless blend of genres that define musical evolution.

 Portishead do nothing but take polaroids since their inception, they do nothing but be imperfect in their retro productions in taste and modern in sound rendering.

 The defects of Portishead are their distinctive traits of a shadowy and reserved personality. All this is what made them perfect.

Glory Times captures Portishead’s unique blend of trip-hop, blues, and eclectic influences rooted in their Bristol origins. The review highlights the band’s use of atmosphere, samples, and vintage sounds to create a mix between retro and modern styles. Portishead's imperfection and soulful expression are seen as their defining traits. Overall, Glory Times offers a deep dive into their early and eclectic sounds that complement their groundbreaking debut album. Discover the melancholic and soulful world of Portishead's Glory Times—listen now and immerse yourself in the essence of 90s trip-hop.

 A fragrant, colorful, at times oily sound. An IDM with a tropical scent that splashes and contorts in psychedelic pools with blurred edges.

 A journey to the end of electronics, a labyrinth for all those new Theseus who have just killed the Minotaur.

Lifeforms by The Future Sound of London is a richly textured IDM and ambient album that blends psychedelic, tropical, and glitch elements. The review uses a mythological metaphor to describe the music as a fluid, organic labyrinth inviting listeners to shed inhibitions and immerse themselves in an evocative sonic journey. The album is praised for its diverse instrumentation, unexpected instrumental breaks, and its seamless evolution between tracks. It offers an intoxicating exploration of electronic music's more experimental and naturalistic edges. Dive into the hypnotic world of Lifeforms and experience a groundbreaking electronic journey unlike any other.

 Close your eyes. Imagine running your finger over the globe... It is a voice that speaks, an ancient voice that belongs to the whole world.

 A mix of New York hip hop, ambient, electronic music, dub, reggae, psychedelic music, jazz, funk, and soul... a mesmerizing and powerful journey.

Mezzanine by Massive Attack is a seminal trip hop album that blends diverse genres into a hypnotic, immersive soundscape. The review praises its unique fusion of hip hop, dub, ambient, and soul. Highlights include standout tracks like Angel, Teardrop, and Inertia Creeps featuring iconic guest vocals. The album captures a powerful, introspective mood that remains timeless and influential. The review celebrates Mezzanine as a defining work in electronic music history. Dive into Mezzanine and experience the timeless trip hop journey that redefined electronic music.

 It is a voice sweetly distorted; a sugar that does not cause the diabetes that is banality.

 Morphing is indeed, in my opinion, the track that represents them; the deepest and most dangerous track.

Elsiane's album Hybrid offers a unique and emotionally intense trip-hop experience that took almost a decade to complete. The duo combines warm electronic beats with deep, existential lyrics, highlighted by Elsieanne Caplette's unaltered, expressive voice. Standout tracks like 'Mend' and 'Morphing' showcase their ability to evoke dark yet inviting atmospheres. The album balances haunting melodies with moments of light, creating a rich listening journey. Listen to Elsiane's Hybrid now and dive deep into a hauntingly beautiful trip-hop journey.

 Marc Leclair (aka Akufen) reminds us of this, a Canadian DJ who composed this electronic jewel for his wife and two of his friends who became pregnant at the same time.

 An album that aims essentially to be an invitation to dance, a calibrated and sparkling experimental electronic music that flavors the amniotic fluid.

Marc Leclair’s album offers a sophisticated electronic exploration inspired by pregnancy and birth, merging glitchy micro-house rhythms with ambient textures. It reflects on the complexity of modern life while inviting listeners to a dance of balance and meditation. The reviewer appreciates the album’s conceptual depth and intricate sound design, viewing it as a unique artistic response to the world’s chaos. Dive into Marc Leclair’s mesmerizing electronic world—listen now and experience a unique blend of glitch and ambient minimalism.

 Beguiled is the work that best represents the artist in his emotional dimension and, therefore, manifests his true original nature.

 Ultimately, this is music that would move both a man of the nineteenth century and a man of the twenty-second century.

Tim Story's album Beguiled highlights his sensitivity and refined style through intimate aquatic and floral soundscapes. Blurring genres like dreampop and contemporary romanticism, the album balances electronic and acoustic elements perfectly. Despite limited mainstream recognition, Tim Story crafts music that transcends time and conveys deep emotion. Several tracks evoke dreamlike melancholy with comparisons to artists like Mick Karn and Dead Can Dance. Beguiled stands as the pinnacle representation of Story’s original emotional expression. Listen to Tim Story's Beguiled and dive into a timeless emotional and musical experience.

 The times are always expanded, spreading like dark stains of thick oil: the flickering of the ghost drum does not serve as the backbone but accompanies mumbling in the background.

 In these eternally fog-enshrouded swamps, the atmosphere is vespertine: it vibrates with warning, at the bottom of which the arteries of dreams pulse in relief.

Geisterfaust by Bohren & der Club of Gore is a masterful exploration of dark ambient and noir-jazz atmospheres. The album expands time through languid, immersive soundscapes built on vibraphone, tuba, and saxophone. It evokes a nocturnal, narcotic ambiance filled with metaphysical tension and hypnotic loops. The music challenges conventional structure, favoring suspension and introspection over progression. Dive into the mesmerizing world of Geisterfaust and experience Bohren & der Club of Gore’s hypnotic dark ambient noir jazz.

 Jaar is a shaman of electronic music.

 "Patience is our virtue."

Cenizas by Nicolas Jaar is a deeply introspective and spiritual electronic album inspired by ayahuasca rituals. It blends ambient, minimal textures with syncopated rhythms to create a healing sound journey. The album explores themes of isolation, pain, and renewal, using ritualistic and personal elements. Jaar's work reflects his desire for presence and love over ambition, offering listeners a meditative experience. Dive into the immersive and healing sounds of Nicolas Jaar's Cenizas—experience the spiritual journey today.

 Thanks to a microcosm of gadgets and small synths, Hainbach creates a series of restless soundscapes.

 More than the calm after the storm, this album is the calm during the storm.

Hainbach’s album Gestures crafts a series of restless and haunting electronic soundscapes that evoke a mysterious and emotional storm. Using small synths and gadgets, the music conveys a drifting, foggy world accompanied by subtle movement throughout the album. Despite the reviewer’s unfamiliarity with ambient electronic music, the album captivates with its unique language and immersive atmosphere. Gestures is described as a calm during the storm, perfectly embodying an emotional fog. Listen to Hainbach’s Gestures and immerse yourself in its captivating ambient storm of soundscapes.