Skee Mask – Resort

Dreamy album from Skee Mask, must listen for fans of the 90s AI/braindance sound meeting modern broken techno. Really well rounded record with something for everyone. Love the very last cut 'Vitamin 313' which very much wears its Detroit influences on its sleeve, but like everything Skee Mask has released in the last few years, sounds like something only they can make. Every album leaves you wondering what sonic worlds Skee Mask will travel to next.

The bass lines on this album are outstanding. "Waldmeister" made by der Meister. AOTY for me.

A totally singular artist, Müller's consistency, excellence, and work ethic are hard to believe. The most surprising aspect of the the fourth Skee Mask record is how fresh and vital the result is despite how little the formula has changed.

Most of the songs on Resort would individually not feel out of place on either Shred or Compro, but when grouped together as an LP, subtle patterns emerge that give Resort an individual identity of its own.

2021's Pool remains apart from the the other three due its difficulty of listen and the density of its Acid sub-theme, while 2024's Resort is a holiday poolside nap in comparison. I've seen more than a few mentions of this as an 'Ambient' record. This is inaccurate enough to be worth pointing out and refuting. The first track is an ambient song. The second track begins as an ambient track but develops rhythmically by the end. From there, every subsequent song, aside from Terminal Z, has a full compliment of sequenced percussion. This is the same kind of ratio/configuration to Shred and Compro, but the reason that people are want to throw the 'ambient' term around this time is that the overall vibe is a touch more mellow.

If some broad simple generalizations would aid in understanding the subtle contextual differences between the four LPs: 2016's Shred is perhaps the most 'Techno' of the LPs, 2018's Compro the 'General Overview of Electronic Music' record, 2021's Pool the 'Acid-Flavored Marathon of Intensity', while 2024's 'Resort' is where his love for the jazzy Neo-Soul side of Hip Hop bubbles up through his ambient pads. Slight twinges of acid remain in a few places, and the spectre of a house vibe gets particularly undeniable towards the last 1/3. But the techno and house and breakbeat patterns drop into the downtempo range in many places, and he is closer than ever to Q-tip or Questlove or Dilla with the accompanying pads and samples.

At first, I was disappointed listening to the digital files and thought "damn, is this a medicore Skee Mask lp?".

Now i've spun the vinyl up and it feels like a very different album, sonically it's supreme, lushly layered in an ambient warmth and hum missing from the digital versions.

Can't say I expected a ambient album but I'm glad it's here and truthfully, I sort of needed this right now.

My pressing was almost flawless although I don’t get why you send a half-Ambient album of 30+ $ in a paper sleeve..,

Nice clean loud press. Music speaks for itself. Super tip.