SASHA - SCENE DELETE (LATE NIGHT TALES) - Album Review

Sasha:
Scene Delete (Late Night Tales):
Night Time Stories:
LP/CD/DD:
Out Now:

Partly informed by the likes of contemporary classicists Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Nils Frahm, Wim Mertens et al and inspired by Jon Hopkins' own Late Night Tales escapade of drifting ambient music and softlight house, Scene Delete is heralded by the record label as something of a departure for the likes of Sasha.

Often associated with creating lengthy anthemic progressive house bangers for the past couple of decades, the world-renowned award-winning producer, remixer and superstar DJ has opted to piece together a suite of twilight techno - perfect music for sunsets, nightbus journeys and fireside comedowns.

But this isn't new territory for Sasha - check out Requiem or Wavy Gravy from Airdrawndagger or some of the emFire Collection issued a few years ago. In fact much of the Welshman's extensive extended catalogue has its roots in minimalism and the ethereal. Finally though, Sasha has chosen the right time to accompany those hefty epics with some chill out standards.

Very little on Scene Delete breaks sweat - View 2 has deft sampled vocals and half-speed beats, Linepulse fizzes and pulsates gently and soporifically and Scarpa Falls doesn't sound so far removed from Space Dimension Controller. It's all very pretty in places - give Warewolf six minutes of your time and the Underworld-esque Rooms another six and you'll see what I mean. In fact this track is as 'up' as things get.

Without initially intending to do so, Sasha has refreshed his already illustrious career with a contemporary timeless album deserving of repeated plays. There's a natty limited edition as well as vinyl and CD editions.

★★★★★★★★☆☆