Mono/Poly - Golden Skies

What this ethereal concept does mean however, is that this album lacks one of Dickerson’s greatest strengths; that is, to decapitate dance floors with beats. His last release, 2013’s LP version of Killer B’s, was the storm before the calm: tracks such as “Los Angeles” and “Ill Deal” unleashed hip-hop as hard as Samiyam, or Eprom or any other beatstrumental artist can muster.

Golden Skies is conceptually on another planet, sharing only minor themes with the latter tracks of 2009’s Paramatma LP, and almost nothing at all with either Killer B’s or 2011’s Manifestations. As if to make that point as clear as possible, opening track “Winds of Change” escorts you out of this world, and “Transit to the Golden Planet” takes you to the new world, away from Low End Theory, loud noises and large beats. The tracks feature a similar type of rich, orchestrally-influenced production to that of fellow Brainfeeder signee Teebs, although this similarity is dimmed down from “Ra Rise” onward in favour of a more synthesised bliss. “Alpha and Omega” clinks and clatters without losing Dickerson’s carefully constructed otherworldliness, whilst “Nightgarden” is a lesson to producers who want to make a slow, near four minute instrumental track work while not giving up its ambient beauty.

It’s not just the music which suggests the spiritual concept - track names are littered with references to the afterlife. “Empyrean” is a medieval Latin word for the place in the highest heaven for the dwelling of God, as well as being track 9. It also features the only proper vocal on the album, a haunting whisper from Mendee Ichikawa that fades away rather too soon. Although it may not have fitted into what Dickerson wanted for the album, Golden Skies could have taken a lesson from Taylor McFerrin’s excellent Brainfeeder release earlier this year and included a few more vocal tracks.

Nevertheless, within its self-imposed constraints, it’s quite hard to fault Golden Skies. The production is as excellent as Mono/Poly’s reputation would expect, with some excellent features from Thundercat on “Gamma” and Rebekah Raff on “Transit to the Golden Planet”. Golden Skies may be considered by some as too otherworldly for its own good. If given a choice between the Mono/Poly of the clubs or of the clouds, I’d pick the former. Regardless, Golden Skies picks for us. This is a record to drift away in, not one to dance around to. But you might get away with a gentle sway.