- Dylan Khotin's second 1080p release, following his Hello World LP in 2014, swells with the sort of woozy, melancholy house that's becoming the Vancouver-based producer's calling card. At its best, Khotin's music gestures to a feeling that's both introspective and epic, such as Hello World's "Flight Theme," whose glassy Rhodes keys waltzed around toy-box 808s and heaving synths. Much of Baikal Acid is rendered in similarly understated emotional shades, but its strengths actually lie in the brighter moments.
Take "Human Voice": the track billows with silky synths and serrated bass notes that give it a light, refreshing texture. It's like an exfoliating scrub made of New Age timbres, hi-hat flurries and cymbal crashes. "Baikal Acid"s grainy kick pounds against a synth line played like a low-octave pan pipe, which foregrounds Khotin's usual mournful edge. On the A-side, two mixes of "Recycle" are the centrepieces, but Khotin's busy beat on the "5AM Reflection Mix"—especially its handclaps and bobbing bassline—don't entirely mesh with its descending ambient phrases. At least there's the "Drift Mix," a beatless version whose gentle seaside sounds are a pleasure to sink into.
TracklistA1 Recycle (5AM Reflection Mix)
A2 Recycle (Drift Mix)
B1 Human Voice
B2 Baikal Acid