Melt is the latest offering from opium-soaked dream-soul dynamos Young Magic. The 11-track album is as rhythmically driven as it is hypnotic, melding hip hop influenced beats seamlessly with sweeping, mystical atmosphere.
Fronted by Australian-born Isaac Emmanuel, Young Magic is the newest addition to Carpark Records. Now living in New York, Emmanuel takes a ballsier approach to dream pop than label mates Beach House. Layered, spacey vocals are paired with unrelenting rhythm to produce a sound that is both ethereal and driving. The slow groove on “Night in the Ocean” lends itself not only to the overall reverb ritual feel of the album, but also to the rap break on the track, a difficult balance to achieve (A side note: If you like The Pillow Book and wiggly geometric shapes, be sure to check out the video for “Night in the Ocean” — it’s really beautiful.)
Melt owes its success to its drums, which weave each track together while remaining versatile and fresh. The beats on this album command a sort of sleepy, lilting power, evocative of desert cults and space age jungle blood rites. There is something eerie and compelling about Young Magic fans of ritual sacrifice and hard drugs are sure to enjoy.