Oddisee

It's easy to express nostalgia through music, but capturing the feel of a place is a much harder task. With his sixth album, DC producer/Low Budget member Oddisee distils his favourite childhood park's vibe into an expansive instrumental suite. Here, the only rap comes from fellow Diamond District member yU, on intro track "Still Doin' It." Backed by springy bass and airy strings, yU's vivid tour through DC perfectly establishes the album's warm, rustic vibe. Oddisee makes beats like the Impressionists created oil paintings: sampled snippets tucked into lush live instrumentation and broad swathes of strings mingling with nimble bass lines. From the roller disco groove of "Uptown Cabaret" to the horn-powered Chicago soul of "Skipping Rocks," he makes it all sound of one place. Rock Creek Park is perfect for the late autumn haze, but like any fond memory, it'll only improve with time.