Claustrophilia

Chachi Jones is one of a growing army of what are coming to be called "bedroom electronic musicians" — people who craft their music on a small scale, often using strange instruments of their own invention or pressing unsuspecting toys and household gadgets into service. Jones has been working pretty much within the broad confines of glitchcore and IDM, but his first full-length album finds him exploring a mellower and more approachable side. That's not to say that Claustrophilia is exactly easy listening, but there's something warm and inviting about its general ambience, even when the beats are tripping by at a fast and furious pace and the samples are warped and twisted. On "Taking You Out," a stutter-step dancehall rhythm alternates with a more conventionally funky breakbeat while distorted spoken-word vocals swell in and out of the mix; "Clear" is built on synthetic handclaps and gently rolling synthesizer chords; and "Broken Bliss Box" sounds like a jam session between Bill Nelson in his ambient period and Aphex Twin in his jungle mode. Strongly recommended.