Album Review: Young Montana? - Limerence

Do we really need to go over this again? Each time a thrilling new electronic talent emerges from the UK, we feel obliged to reiterate what’s steadily become something of a mantra 'round these parts, which is that those making music within that particular genre on that particular island have been brewing something quite special of late. Apologies if we’re beginning to sound a bit like a broken record at this stage, but it looks like the list of phenomenally skillful young British producers (a roll call that already includes the likes of Gold Panda, Luke Abbott, James Blake, Seams, Dam Mantle and Star Slinger) might need more updating.

What’s so exciting about all of these newcomers is the depth and variety of talent they each bring to the table; uniqueness seems to be the one thing they all have in common, with not one of them so far having arrived by virtue of mere imitation. Jon Pritchard, whose teenage exploits as Young Montana? landed firmly on our radar (along with many others) towards the end of last year, is certainly part of this new wave. The beat collagist's breakout track - the soulful, twitchy and downright brilliant ‘Sacre Cool’ - introduced us to a young artist clearly already well-versed in the gospel according to J Dilla; now, on his debut LP, the Coventry native demonstrates a versatility and array of skills far beyond his years. Hip hop is still perhaps Limerence's most obvious reference point - overridingly so on ‘Suchbeats’ and the sensational ‘Hot Heathrr’ - but there’s also room here for Pritchard to craft (on 'Mynnd', in particular) the kind of sweeping sci-fi soundscapes that pals Solar Bears showcased so well last year. Elsewhere, the gigantic beat unleashed on album-closer ‘Connct’ brings this writer right back to The Bucketheads' still-legendary mid-nineties anthem, 'The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall into My Mind)'. Nor is there any shortage of dark, off-kilter material scattered across these eleven tracks (‘Legwrap’ and the menacing ‘Repetition’ are both standouts), all of which is of a standard that would make Young Montana? right at home among L.A.’s burgeoning beat scene.

In fact, if you had to choose one specific comparison to describe Pritchard's sound, then L.A. would probably be the best place to start: there are shades aplenty of Flying Lotus in this guy's work - not so much because he perhaps sounds a bit like the prolific producer in places here, but rather because, listening to Limerence, you know you’re in the presence of a true original. Sure, the sheer depth of variety employed may disrupt the record's overall flow from time to time, but when a twenty year-old is making music this exciting, do we really care?