- Andrew Morgan's Peoples Potential Unlimited is a nexus for eccentric electronic soul and forgotten private-press gems of the past. In recent years, though, the label has split its focus between these synth artifacts and new music, introducing the world to some formidable talents. That brings us to Fleet Dreams, a duo from the American South debuting with the startling Fleet Magic EP. The project of singer Ajit D'Brass and producer Colton R. May, Fleet Dreams makes woozy, R&B-inflected synth-funk that could have been released anytime during the last 25 years. May often gets an impressive amount of mileage out of just one or two synth partches, focusing on songwriting rather than sound design.
One highlight, "On My Grind," is a mix of laidback house and R&B. While May's production is nuanced (listen to the breaks on "U So Queen") and just "live" enough, it's D'Brass's off-kilter vocals that complete the group's ambitious formula. Throughout the record, he plays the part of a whacked-out Lothario, a bedroom version of André 3000 circa The Love Below. On "Bout It, Baby," he takes the perspective of a fugitive romancing a cop, maneuvering the language of law enforcement into sexual directives. The guest vocalist on "Waistband" comments on the duo's "bootleg studio" before joining D'Brass on a dazzling slo-mo jam stacking vocal hook on hook. Fleet Dreams is PPU's latest proof of an old adage: "It's not the tools, it's how you use them."
TracklistA1 Bout It Baby
A2 On My Grid
A3 U So Queen
B1 Soft Light
B2 Waistband