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Lawrence: Illusion

What to expect from a new Lawrence album? Might this, his eighth since switching from landscaping to music production, see a change in direction?

‘Illusion’ finds the Hamburg based producer return to his own label Dial, which he co-founded with Carsten Jost, and follows on from two acclaimed LPs on Japan’s Mule Musiq. Thankfully, there isn’t a grand artistic genre switch here – Lawrence continues to hone his winning formula of deep yet graceful Chicago and Detroit influences combined with elegant crystalline production and subtle melancholia.

A dance floor focus remains, with ‘Illusion’ feeling like an extension of his more club orientated work on ‘Yoyogi  Park‘ or ‘Films & Windows‘ rather than the pensive explorations of ‘A Day in the Life‘. Indeed – if tracks such as “Lucifer”  or “Simmer” quickened your pulse then look no further as ‘Illusion’ is front to finish delights in a similar vein.

If anything, Lawrence travels deeper with “Yu Yu” hovering heart rending strings across a liminal post club netherworld. “Flaunting High” propels us on a late night drive though a luminous cityscape whilst “Creepers” tugs our emotions spacing wide screen pads across spectral de-tuned melodies.

Lawrence’s productions take further flight when he makes the rare switch from straight 4/4 to an electro swing. Here we are treated to “Transitions” which crawls around a sub-aqueous dance floor like a tranquillised Drexciya flashing Motor City neon. It would be really interesting to hear a pure electro style LP from Lawrence exploring this kind of territory further.

‘Illusion’ finds Lawrence in typically fine soul nourishing form with a cadence as stylish and aesthetically pleasing as any of his previous work – in short, a brilliant album not to be missed. Ahead of the release of the album we are delighted to offer you a taster with a premiere of “Dark Swirl” – simply beautiful electronic music for both home and club listening.

Illusion is scheduled for release 5th October 2018 via Dial. Order a copy from Kompakt.

TRACKLIST

1. Crystal
2. Treasure Box
3. Illusion
4. Yu Yu
5. Flaunting High
6. Transitions
7. Dark Swirl
8. Montreux
9. Creepers

Discover more about Lawrence and Dial on Inverted Audio.