Telescope Zoom

• Words: Christine Hsieh
• Label: Combination
• XLR8R Rating: /10

This unexpected gem of an album instantly recalls the laidback, jazz-licked downbeat of the late ‘90s Eastern European scene, the tender glitch-house of Matthew Herbert, and the minimalist aesthetic of Steve Bug as it moves gently through warm, full-bodied, mid-tempo tunes flecked with bongo drums and delicate acoustic guitar. Far from hands-in-the-air dancefloor stuff, this album appeals primarily on the cerebral level. This is all the more interesting, given that the standout track, "The Horse," has one of the more bizarre lyrics in dance music today-a fault turned into a feature once that luscious bassline rolls in.