Bleep

LA-based label Friends of Friends presents a beguiling album of ethereal blues from Perera Elsewhere, a British artist based in Berlin. The husky nonchalance of tracks like ‘The Zap’ and Bizarre’ make them worth intense listening, despite their conventional smooth-jazz accompaniments, and explain the relevance of an appearance from Warp records mystic Gonjasufi. ‘Everlast’ impresses most, however, when the acoustic blues accompaniments melt into more textured backgrounds which recall LA beatmakers such as Teebs or even Flying Lotus at his most luxurious. ‘Lazy’ has a summery hum which evokes balmy summer nights, while ‘Light Bulb’ similarly distorts any conventional sense of space with distant string chorals and piano noodles sounding as if they were recorded in a nearby cave, while Elsewhere’s vocals nonetheless remain close and intimate.