Album Review: Lone- Reality Testing

Last month, British Producer Matt Cutler released his new album Reality Testing, which was his first since 2012's Galaxy Garden. After hearing the first two singles of the album: "Airglow Fires" and "2 is 8", I was definitely excited to hear what Lone brought with the rest of the album, and he did not disappoint. The first track of the album "First Born Seconds" is exactly how the title sounds, it's like you're a newborn baby coming out of the womb and Lone picks you up and carries you off into a brand new world of endless possibilities. The pads and synths in this short (but sweet) opener set the mood for the rest of this spacey, rhythmic gem of an album. Within the atmosphere Lone creates, he throws in a variety of different beat styles with influences from JDilla-esque hip-hop, to french house and also hints of jazz too. But despite the different beat styles Lone might have on here, he very well manages to hold the album together by the use of his atmospheric trademark sound. Highlights include "Meeker Warm Energy", "Jaded", and "2 is 8"  all of which are straightforward very melodic hip hop influenced beats- much different from Lone's past work, but still executed beautifully. "Aurora Northern Quarter" and "Vengeance Video" throw in jazzy type ride cymbals and pianos, dosed in Lone's signature blissed-out synths., while "Airglow Fires" and "Begin to Begin" lean more towards the dancey  French house style I mentioned earlier. My personal favorite is the albums ender "Cutched Under" in which Lone makes good use of an angelic female vocal sample and a detailed beat with lush synths and apreggios floating everywhere your ears could possibly wander. This song is a perfect way for Lone to end the album; it's as if he has been guiding you throughout the album and now it's time for him to let go of your hand and say "everything will be okay, I believe in you, you'll be fine". As the album ends you will realize you're back on earth and not in space, and you will definitely crave another trip through Lone's unique world which he has created here.

Album Rating: 8.7/10
DL Link https://mega.co.nz/#!90YHmCwK!VxK2EASjRHVsD2EU9gyH9AEumV49BztgeNR0h1dupnw