With summer already in full swing, UK based Oriol may have put together one of the defining dance-chill albums of 2010.
Known by his real name Oriol Singhji, the ever-tasteful Planet Mu label cottoned on pretty quick to this guy, giving him a clear spot on their release schedule. What we do know about Singhji is that he is a man of the world, born in Barcelona, studied music in Boston, and is now based between Cambridge and London. His tastes in music vary between the diverse layering of Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder all the way to the lush house of Theo Parrish, Larry Heard and Recloose.
His debut album Night and Day offers us eleven flat out gems slipping and sliding its way through Singhji’s tropical cosmos. When I first heard ‘Coconut Coast’, I’d instantly imagined myself flattened out, oiled up on a beach, with a big fat smile on my face. It not only shuffles and kicks, but also brings the sunshine out in every way. It’s by far the most instantly attractive song on the record. ‘Flux’ is as much endearing as it is molded by the South London Dubstep sound; it screams Joy Orbison without any clichéd mimicry attached to it.
When you dig a little deeper, Night and Day delves into the new revitalized chill-a-tronica movement led by Lone, Bibio and Mount Kimbie, harnessing the powers of some truly refined bedroom production skills. All the tracks are subtle, but you listen to them without heading towards the skip button – it’s refreshing, seamless and imaginative. Through Oriol’s optimistic universe, you pick up small details that become clearer only when you listen to the album over and over. This is an artist you hope sticks around; we want him back for summer 2011.
His debut album Night and Day is out on Planet Mu on July 19th.
Have listen to his track Coconut Coast right here:
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