Flying Lotus, Never Catch Me (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

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Experimental pioneer Steven Ellison has garnered much (warranted) praise for his daring work under the “Flying Lotus” moniker. This new track features the unflappable Kendrick Lamar, whose appearance here is inspired; his breakneck flow interweaves with Ellison’s audacious, genre-defying production to create a dizzying sonic tapestry. A solitary piano line serves as the crisp backbone that (barely) holds the other chaotic elements in place. It’s a jazzy, fire-breathing cavalcade of a track, one that should sufficiently sate your appetite until the full release of You’re Dead! on October 7.

Aphex Twin, minipops 67 [120.2][source field mix]

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Any approach to the first track from electronic trailblazer Richard D James in thirteen years is likely to be fraught with nervous anticipation. Its superficial dissonance makes for a jarring first listen, but patience is rewarded. The track unravels to reveal the sort of carefully crafted soundscape you’d expect from this genre stalwart. Heavily modified vocal samples and jumpy percussion create a robust frame for the track to maneuver within. Vivid pianos flicker around its edges, palpable but never invasive. Only James could make something this disordered sound so coherent.