Saino might be Belgian, but his productions draw on a rich UK lineage. All four cuts here reimagine the fragmented melodic textures of Four Tet and the thrilling breaks of Aphex Twin through the lens of the Minecraft generation. They’re hyperactive and impossibly intricate by design, but gorgeous floating pads and bright celestial ambience render them escapist and hopeful brain soothers that turn rhythmic density into blissful uplift. ‘All I Want to Be’ has the forlorn charm of bedroom R&B, ‘Thorns And Spires’ spins out on a tumbling bassline, ‘Below Zero’ is a turbulent emotional whirlwind and closer ‘Everything Is A Blur’ is the high watermark that finds devastating beauty in utter heartbreak. This is inward-facing music that leaves you ready to take on the world.
