Illum Sphere - Embryonic (feat. Shadowbox)
The latest song to be plucked from 'Ghosts Of Then And Now', Manchester DJ and producer Illum Sphere's long-awaited debut album for Ninja Tune, is Embryonic, a sweet lullaby with a guest turn from Brooklyn singer ShadowBox, who appears elsewhere on the full album (we're not exactly sure how the Manchester-Brooklyn connection came about, but both attended Red Bull Music Academy in different years).
In contrast to the high speed instrumental blast of Sleeprunner, Embryonic is a lovely little quasi-pop song, radiating warmth with its whirrs and buzzes, background crackle, and ShadowBox's syrupy vocal. In itself it's quite gorgeous, but in the context of the album it's a little different, its quiet, kickdrum-free rhythms bringing the record to a close.
Ninja Tune will release 'Ghosts Of Then And Now' on February 10th 2014.