Kevlar Sands

Since debuting on Marcel Dettmann Records in 2015, Ryan James Ford has been responsible for some of the most distinctive music around (last year's "Ormst Kaban" EP on Happy Skull being particularly potent). "Eastern Exposure" marks his first outing on Portuguese imprint Dream Ticket and contains a quintet of ear-pleasing tracks. After opening with an opaque and fluid chunk of ambience ("Beztu Pylsur") he doffs a cap to classic Aphex Twin (the icy ambient electronics and skittish IDM rhythms of "Houndslow"), before opening side B with the crunchy hip-hop breaks, bleeping electronics and moody chords of "Bathurst & College". "From His Youth" is a rapid and off-kilter techno romp with added sci-fi synths, while "Kevlar Sands" offers more sparkling, futuristic IDM business. - Juno UK