Multi-talented producer returns to the realm with the beautiful and diverse . When he indulges his fondness for hooks with his dancefloor material, 's melodic choices are glossy and extroverted, but his music for home listening is focused, controlled, and deeply internal. His knack for blending traditional instruments like guitar and piano with simple harks back to music's birth in the mid-'70s; at times recalls the work of pioneers like , , and . The icy sets the meditative tone on , with gentle, winding guitar lines, relaxed synthesizer oscillations, and plenty of breathing space for the minimal instrumentation. Beats make their first appearance on as smooth, semi-tribal hand drums blend organically with the repeating keyboard figures. adds drum programming to the brew, and 's knack for reflective melody on the track rivals the best of . Both and use vocal samples to haunting effect, bringing to mind the favored techniques of without direct reference to machine . The flow is marred by a misplaced cutup ( ), but possesses an austere beauty and should not be overlooked. ~ Mark Richardson