DnB heads rejoice! Alice Okada has descended onto planet Earth with goods and gifts. Hailing from Portland, the cryptic and mysterious producer champions a music-first approach, letting his visionary and vaporous brand of liquid drum’n’bass charm even the most apathetic of listeners. Aptly titled, ‘Liquid, or Jungle?’ is the EP that introduces us to the project’s psychedelic and hazy aural universe, a wealth of mangled Amen breaks and internet-age textures that feel truly contemporary and relevant.
In fact, the EP’s title track is more akin to a mixture between jungle and vaporwave, with hypnotic drum breaks layered under nostalgic synth goodness and prophetic, pitch-down vocals. That said, we suspect that the record will resonate with different people in various ways, as it’s clear that Okada is fishing from a wide pool of influences. Furthermore, ‘Liquid, or Jungle?’ was written while making medical use of Esketamine, an FDA-approved prescription nasal spray used alongside an oral antidepressant.
‘Is DnB Really Intelligent?’ is the second and last track on the EP, a mixture of liquid grooves and classic acid house staples that’s a joy to listen to. The sax sample particularly reminds us of electronic music stalwarts 808 State, as does the addition of a jazz-flavoured double bass. Delving deeper into the creative process behind the record, Alice Okada explains: “The production was just done in my bedroom, but for me, it’s a cosy and comfortable space, and one that allowed me to fully spread my wings, and focus on making something worth listening to.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Liquid, or Jungle?’ now: