Other Side Drive October 9, 2012

By Alex Frank
KTSW Music

October 9, 2012

Music Review

Until The Quiet Comes is the latest album from the experimental electronic music producer Steven Ellison, also known as Flying Lotus. Ellison is distantly related to the late John Coltrane, which may explain the heavy jazz influence of his work, especially on tracks such as “Only if You Wanna.” Fans of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim may recognize Flying Lotus from their use of his songs as bumper music between shows. The lead single from Until the Quiet Comes is “Putty Boy Strut,” a track with a consistent underlying cadence layered with a repeating a-tempo lead. The dissonance between the two sections adds an interesting texture to a seemingly rudimentary song. “The Night Caller,” is one of the standout tracks on this release. Borrowing heavily from funk and R & B, “The Night Caller” features modulated synth lead part that will get your body moving in all the right directions. Midway through the track Flying Lotus stops the track dead and reboots it with an intergalactic boogie that kicks the funk into overdrive.

The track that the younger crowds will enjoy is “Sultan’s Request,” relying on a standard hip-hop drum beat but layering in an unreal amount of bass and hot string leads. The minimalist approach shows Flying Lotus’ focus on the elements that stimulate the groove cortex in humans. Overall this is one of Flying Lotus’ strongest releases and has appeal for fans of funk, electronic, hip-hop and even jazz. This is one of the best electronic releases of the year and its significance will only continue as time passes. “See Thru to U” is another track that warrants mentioning if not only for a powerful performance by Erykah Badu. For more information about Flying Lotus go to flying-lotus.com.