Clouds

An up-and-coming producer out of Detroit, Apollo Brown has been busy as of late, dropping a slew of impressive projects, both with MCs (Gas Mask and Brown Study) and without (Make Do). On Clouds, he goes the instrumental route again, concocting 27 short but sweet, rap-free joints composed mostly of super-chill, low-BPM loops, heavy on the chimes, breezy guitars, and slow but funky elastic bass grooves. With a mellow sound clearly influenced by J Dilla, Oddisee, 9th Wonder, and early DJ Shadow (especially apparent on "Human Existence"), this is mood music ideally suited for headphones and personal contemplation. Most of the tracks here blend together easily, and while others are definitive head-nodders despite their languid pace. The synth-infused "Drinking Life," Pharcyde-sampling "Shoot the Heart," and Lonnie Liston Smith-inspired "Bridge Through Time" are standouts.