Pathfinder

London-based Ross Tones currently records as Throwing Snow, working with the artist-led label Houndstooth. Tones considers the four tracks here a “route into a greater portion of work, giving a sense of what is to come.” The music is meant “to be listened to along journeys.” The prolific Tones (who has also worked with labels like Local Action, Ho Tep, Sneaker Social Club, and his own Snowfall imprint) starts strong with the aptly named “The Tempest,” featuring the seductive vocals of Adda Kaleh as Tones provides his own sense of urgency. “Caedis,” in comparison, is a calming piece that centers on loops and violin before settling on a terse synth and strong downbeat. The title track ventures into a dark space that’s surprisingly comforting by track’s end. The relatively brief closer, “Summus,” takes a different path, which suggests a grand orchestral showdown before settling into an expansive space walk.