Caribou Curates: crackaud.io Takeover
15 years after he began making music as Caribou and seven albums deep, Dan Snaith has created the kind of recognisable aura around his records that most only dream of. Like a great film director, his is a voice you recognise instantly.
Though it certainly carries that Snaith accent, his new album Suddenly is probably the biggest departure from what you’d expect from a Caribou record thus far. The subject matter is candid and for the first time in his career, only Snaith himself sings on the album, offering a tonal counterpoint to instrumentals that bounce through his whims and ideas. As Danny Wright describes is his review, it's “his richest, strangest album yet.”
To celebrate the album’s release, Caribou has curated five mixes from some old friends and respected peers, which we’ve been releasing daily. Now to mark Suddenly’s arrival we’ve compiled all five here. Scroll down to dive in.
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
Modular-synth-queen Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith builds a swirling soundscape beset by unexpected shifts into sugary house and microtonal melody.
Cosmic Tom
Cosmic Slop is a party in Leeds that raises money for MAP, a charity which runs arts and music classes for children. The night and its legendary sound system are a beacon of togetherness in the city. Cosmic Tom’s mix, recorded on said system, evokes the abandon of the dancefloor, moving through funk, hip-hop and boogie.
Brandon Hocura
Brandon Hocura, formerly of Invisible Cities and currently running the re-issue label Seance Centre, grew up with Dan Snaith in Ontario (they used to play in a band together called Kaptain Hairdo). Here he harks back to their formative years, spent listening to an eclectic mixture of IDM, digi-dub, ambient and anything suited to an appetite for psychedelia.
India Jordan
Jordan’s had one of those years. They’re fast becoming recognised as one of the best in the game having released DNT STP MY LV on Local Action last May, though they’ve been bubbling away with appearances at beloved spots like Soup Kitchen in Manchester or parties like New Atlantis for years. Their mix is pure fuel in the form of garage, house, footwork and more.
Taraval
Taraval, another old friend of Caribou’s, closes out the week taking us deep into a late-night wormhole. Recorded on four decks, this set is made of thumping techno and cosmic sustain and release, and pulls no punches in transporting us straight to the peak-time dancefloor. Almost nerve-wracking in its intensity.