- If deep, hazy house is your thing, keep an eye on Arkadelphia. A new name from an unlikely place—Tennessee—Arkadelphia has linked up with the Danish label NORD Records for his debut release. The result is New Sun, a four-tracker of wonderfully warm and nuanced analog jams.
"Metaverse"'s heart-shaped synths, blissful yet bittersweet, linger in space as dense layers of filtered percussion cut smartly through the mix. The title track is a little slower and more subdued, an introspective journey filled with soft drones, airy bits of melody and some trippy (but never over-the-top) effects. On the flip, "Saturn" features a mellow melody that meanders in and out of focus, while "Terrestrial Eyes," with its soaring synths and heaving drums, makes for an anthemic end to the record. "Metaverse" is my pick of the four, but there's not a dull moment here. NORD has already put out fine efforts from two well-regarded American producers in 2014—DJ Spider and Bookworms—and this time the label's look to the States has uncovered a promising new talent.
TracklistA1 Metaverse
A2 New Sun
B1 Saturn
B2 Terrestrial Eyes