Imagin

After 12" releases for labels like Black Acre, 50Weapons, Mister Saturday Night, and Tectonic -- works classified as everything from dubstep to garage to bass to house -- Dark Sky switch to Modeselektor's primary outlet, Monkeytown, for a concise ten-track album. Carlo Anderson, Matthew Benyayer, and Thomas Edwards approach the format like many other single- and EP-oriented producers before them. There's a dramatic introduction and an emotive and atmospheric conclusion, and between those two tracks, there is a handful of collaborations with an assortment of vocalists, instrumentals that tend to be more restrained than 12" content, and even a beatless ambient interlude. The best of the "proper" songs is "Vivid," seemingly based around the familiar breakbeat from Lightnin' Rod's "Sport," which builds in intensity through creatively applied nuances. Close behind is "Rainkist," stirring garage with crisp drums, disquieting synthesizer vamps, and an emotive whispered vocal. The album is clearly geared for home listening and is impeccably made. ~ Andy Kellman