There are many sides to Dan Snaith’s musical output, releasing under three stage names Caribou, Manitoba and Daphni. The Canadian artist has just released his latest project under his Daphni alias, how will it hold up against his previous work?
Many of the tracks from this album can be heard on his addition to the iconic Fabriclive mix series, which dropped earlier this year. He says that it was inspired by various trips to the famous London venue, mainly to see Ricardo Villabos. His latest full album was back in 2014, Our Love was released under the Caribou moniker and is an excellent chapter of his back catalogue. Snaith is both a highly credible DJ as well as producer, and 2017’s album Joli Mai proves why he is so highly revered.
Caribou was once a way for him to play with hip hop/soul/funk influences, but he appears to be blurring the lines more as his career progresses, for example his last Caribou album sounded more like a Daphni release at times. Much like his friends Four Tet and Floating Points, who also impressed us this year, their albums can sit somewhere in between the club and the living room. Not only is Joli Mai full of club-friendly tracks, but they are reinforced by melodically complex, emotive music; creating a worthwhile listen from start to finish.
We are welcomed into this musical journey by a rich, smooth polyphonic synth arrangement. The analogue warmth can be felt instantly as the sequenced melody rides a thick, morphing bass. “Poly” is full of charming imperfections, from the pitch hiccups to the subtle tension created as the synthesizers rise for the outro. So rhythmically sparse that it could only really work as an intro, “Poly’s” quiet, restrained drums and soft, repetitive vocals are hypnotizing. “Face To Face” follows and is the complete opposite, with raw, primitive, acoustic drum sounds and an electric bass guitar taking centre stage. Until 3 minutes in, it becomes rather stale, but the repetitiveness is addictive.
“Carry On” brings back the electronic themes, blending stuttering chords and angelic voices expertly. Listen to this on cheap speakers and it could be described as minimal, but its complexity is hidden in its subtlety. Progressing in such an immersive way that the repetition is forgiven, with each element finding a space. “Vulture” is equally as electronic, with synth zaps and buzzes firing all over the place. It features a fizzy, resonant, acid sequence, along with 80’s pads and a unique drum arrangement, but fails to amount to anything notable.
At the album’s halfway point we hear one of Joli Mai’s standout pieces. After a matter of seconds you know to expect something special. Here Snaith samples bollywood-esque, southern asian vocals and utilising African rhythms for the tom/kick. The Indian theme continues with another sensational sample, this time of strings. “Xing Tian” is also an eastern adventure, but is much less inspiring, with less to cling on to; but the percussion choices are smart. “Medellin” has no doubt been inspired by the work of his peer Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet, opting for a minor key and bags of swing; this garage influence can also be heard on “The Truth”.
“Tin” blends all the best bits from driving techno, sexy house and groovy 2-step to create the album’s most digestible track. It is a timeless piece that does not sit in the past or the future, it occupies the rare, golden space, meaning it will certainly be a club staple around the world this year. “Tin’s” thoughtful breakdown, and sweet vocals are helped along with stunning synth work, as well as thumping rhythms. “Hey Drum” will also work in the club, but for different reasons, as its volatile, challenging, minimalism builds across the 7 minute listen. It has a misleading breakdown that is possibly better in some ways than the drops…
Each track on Joli Mai can certainly stand alone, even if some may not exactly make listeners want to dance. They are definitely not restricted to a DJ mix though, as they feature so much texture, and sonic variety. Their sensory, experimental nature aim to hold the listener’s attention, and the result is an album that demands it for its entirety.
Come and give our floor standing speakers a workout, and make your own mind up at your local Richer Sounds demo room today.
