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Nicolas Jaar's A.A.L. Delivers Surprise Sample-Heavy House Album
10 Sep
Summary
- Nicolas Jaar surprises fans with a new album under his A.A.L. moniker.
- The album, '2012 - 2017,' features bold, refined, sample-heavy house tracks.
- This release marks a return to more familiar house music structures for Jaar.
Nicolas Jaar has unveiled a surprise release, '2012 - 2017,' under his Against All Logic (A.A.L.) moniker. This album presents sample-heavy tracks that are both bolder and more refined than his earlier club music. It is noted for its embrace of traditional house music structures, with predictable rhythms and prominent funk and soul samples.
The album's title track, 'This Old House Is All I Have,' sets a tone for the surprisingly sunny and ebullient 'I Never Dream.' These tracks capture the thrilling, racing energy familiar to 1990s house labels. Jaar's work on this album is looser and less formal, focusing on direct engagement with styles he has previously referenced.
Jaar's signature use of samples is evident, but here they are presented more directly, serving as scaffolding for coherent musical passages. Tracks like 'Now U Got Me Hooked' and 'Cityfade' highlight stirring vocal refrains as central elements. Despite occasional moments of experimentation, like the synthesized elements on 'Flash in the Pan,' the album's compositional dynamic prioritizes beats and rhythms.
