California EDM producer Lorin Ashton has described his newest Bassnectar record as more of a mixtape than a proper album, which is your first clue not to expect a particularly cohesive artistic statement this time around. Instead, he’s offering up some new versions of older songs, some remixes and collaborations, and a handful of new material. It’s just enough to satisfy fans (for now), but it’s unlikely to help him break through to new listeners.
The mixtape has come to play a similar role as the one live albums and greatest-hits compilations used to: a quick, cheap way to get some product on shelves without having to take much time away from the road. That low-pressure approach does allow Ashton to dabble in sounds beyond the maximalist brostep and trap beats he’s best known for, but those experiments could have been more smoothly integrated into a polished and complete studio album. Instead, the highlights get lost in what’s essentially a remix compilation dressed up as a record.
Top track: Into The Sun
Bassnectar plays Wayhome at Burl’s Creek Park July 24 to 26.