Meet 20syl, a French turntablist who’s been lurking around the Internet trip-hop and techno scene for quite some time now. Following years of mixing and producing, his debut 2014 EP Motifs seems to have slipped through the cracks and under the radar of the mainstream techno scene, but I’m here to tell you that this standout single Kodama is one you can’t let pass you by. The slow, trancelike intro doesn’t last for long, as the song is soon woofed into a high key, synth ridden beat, sliced open with a compulsive, swooping bass to round out the track. Melodic vocal samples catch your attention and come to the foreground of the song, allowing the choppy piano chords and driving synths to work their magic in the background, all combining to form an immersive masterpiece. Seeming moments of serenity are suddenly blasted open by a heavy snare beat, and even after hundreds of listens I’m still giddy and full of anticipation for the drop. In an electronic genre dominated by the overuse of weighty, sluggish subwoofers and ear splitting bass, this single separates itself from the monotonous crowd and provides a clean, clear-cut, and beautiful contrast that will leave you begging for more. C’est parfait!
-Andrew Wilcox
Aux Deck 