Bleep

Irish producer John Daly ditches the dance floor for chillier coordinates on his latest for Further Records, the first full-length release from his lesser-known The Smoke Clears pseudonym. On Listen, Daly swaps his trademark crisp kicks and deep bass for vaporous synth-lines and minimalist rhythms, resulting in a downtempo, dub-tech trip that swaps styles liberally but still manages to flow seamlessly. Standouts include icy opener ‘Listen’, the 808 undulations of ‘Star Shine’, expansive synth meditation ‘Trace’ and sensual, R’n’B-infused closer ‘Sleep Now’.