Ikonika - Distractions 2xLP

Label: Hyperdub

Ikonika's third album Distractions builds on 2013's Aerotropolis. The title answers the question "Why has the album taken so long?" In the last few years she's been building up a strong CV of remixes, including Chvurches, Dawn Richard, Austra and Junior Boys, as well as DJing and working on Distractions. Distractions distills the character of Ikonika's musical productions across a wider set of styles than previous albums. She subtly fuses and switches elements from contrasting genres, giving the whole set a uniqueness and consistency that puts it in its own lane. Furthermore what sits at the centre of Distractions more than ever is her love of R&B and hip hop which has opened the door to bring in a selection of guests in a way she's not fully explored before. From the full throttle blend of grime and '80s synth soul "Noblest" with Andrea Galaxy, to the reflective "Sacrifice" with up and coming MC Jammz, a slowjam that merges dubstep with hip house drums. The final vocal track is the languid "Hazefield" co-produced with Sweyn J and featuring Jessy Lanza on vocals. Its mix of mechanic clunk and minimalist, lulling funk could only happen in 2017.