Teebs

E s t a r a

BY Daryl KeatingPublished Apr 4, 2014

8
As the sweet soporific melodies of opening track "The Endless" caress your ears into submission almost immediately, it becomes quickly apparent that Teebs hasn't lost his ability paint a glorious summer day with nothing but a sampler and Fruity Loops. From start to finish, there isn't an aggressive note on the album. Yes, this means it's got no edge whatsoever, but who needs edge when you've got a colourful bubble that sails around town, occasionally bumping into chimes and emitting a subtle sub-sonic frequency?

Teebs' earlier releases always had some ties to hip hop, even if they were fairly loose at best. Now, that bridge has disintegrated into a fine mist, and we're left with a breezy sound that's wholly unique to Teebs. He's completely unshackled now, free to carve a sonic identity with no restricting templates. He uses this freedom to create tracks like "SOTM," "Piano Months" and "NY pt. 1," on which traditional elements like piano, bass and drums seem to be operating in a totally foreign environment, like they're passing by in a whirlwind with the rustling leaves and bits of debris. E s t a r a is a step above genre-bending; this is genre-carving.

Read an interview with Teebs here.
(Ninja Tune/Brainfeeder)

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