WORDS Alana Ryan

 Sam Ray, the Baltimore nativ
e who works under the moniker Ricky Eat Acid is nothing if not prolific. Since storming onto the ambient electonica scene back in March 2010 he’s been releasing DIY EPs and albums at a fervent pace. Yet the quality remains across the board. On this latest EP, Sketches, Sam collaborates with Malcolm Lacey to deliver a collection of songs which are soft, whimsical and spacious. A mix of breathy electronica with percussion and the odd piano interlude it’s beautifully crafted and seamlessly produced. Indeed, the attention to beat and melody saves the songs from descending into irritatingly stereotypical musician angst, “Alumni” sample lyric: “you are incredible and you don’t even know it.” Small qualms aside it’s the kind of music which will lull you to sleep and be a pleasure to wake up to.