Like fellow jazzists Thundercat and Flying Lotus (for whom he's played keyboards), Oliver Johnson seems mainly interested in the electronic music genre for its chromatic texture and versatility. Released on acid jazz-friendly label Ninja Tune, Joined Ends finds Johnson (aka Dorian Concept) crafting heavily layered keyboards over spacey beats and paisley effect-laden vocals. Although Johnson remains a keyboardist by trade, the Austrian musician never seems to lean heavily on his instrument of choice, rather allowing clacking rhythms and quirky digital sounds to drive songs like "Clap Track 4," "Nest Nest" and "Trophies."
While Johnson liberally demonstrates his own signature flourishes on Joined Ends, it's remarkable just how much he comes off sounding like Thundercat and Flying Lotus, most notably on tracks like "Ann River, MN" and "The Few." Over 12 tracks, Dorian Concept has crafted adventurous and playful analog soundscapes that manage to come off as otherworldly as they do familiar.
(Ninja Tune)While Johnson liberally demonstrates his own signature flourishes on Joined Ends, it's remarkable just how much he comes off sounding like Thundercat and Flying Lotus, most notably on tracks like "Ann River, MN" and "The Few." Over 12 tracks, Dorian Concept has crafted adventurous and playful analog soundscapes that manage to come off as otherworldly as they do familiar.