Rating: NNN
Halifax-bred, Toronto-based DJ/producer Ryan Hemsworth has rapidly risen to fame, initially on the strength of his remixes (both authorized and bootlegged). In that forum, his wildly eclectic style is a strength, allowing him to take the approach that best suits the source material. On his first album, he applies that method to his own songs and employs a large cast of collaborators to constantly shift the mood.
Fans of his ambient hip-hop and blissed-out impressionist R&B will be more pleased with Guilt Trips than those who prefer his clubby side. At times it seems like he’s trying too hard to prove his versatility, and the revolving door of vocalists only adds to the compilation-of-singles feel. But that’s been Hemsworth’s thing since the beginning, so it shouldn’t be a surprise. Plus, better for an emerging artist to occasionally reach beyond his abilities and falter than to play it safe.
Top track: Yaeko Mitamura Is Lonely