Dimlite - Prismic Tops


It’s been a startling couple of years for instrumental beats of all persuasions: the likes of LA’s Brainfeeder crew and Glasgow’s LuckyMe collective have developed styles with a scope far beyond creating merely ‘instrumental hip hop’. Amongst all the hype and promotion, one of the music’s reclusive architects seems to have been mysteriously overlooked.

But Dimlite’s production was astounding from the start. His EPs of 2003 and debut album Runbox Weathers two years later revealed a Swiss producer beholden to no one, possessing a style as nuanced as his friend Prefuse 73 and yet enriched by a careworn romanticism and quirkiness that rewarded repeat listens and has, over time, made him something of a ‘producer’s producer’.

Another album, singles, remixes and side-projects followed, taking Dimlite’s sound further left, further into a singular world where soul music, latin rhythms, hiphop and more are reconstituted into dreamy, lovelorn beat constructions. And so he takes his place on Now-Again, home to a cadre of similarly singular spirits such as The Heliocentrics and The Whitefield Brothers, each bent on refracting music history through their own unique lenses.

And while copycat producers abound, Dimlite’s uniqueness is only throw into sharper relief. It’s clear the moment he sings, such as on EP highlight Elbow Flood or the astonishing (and miniature) closer, Can’t Get Used To Those. It’s apparent in every one of his strangely abrupt changes. It’s even in his song titles. Perhaps Prismic Tops will be the record that sparks a critical reappraisal of this gifted producer’s work. And if not, Now-Again Records is still proud to present this, the latest in a line of remarkable releases from a quiet pioneer.

About a year ago, there were first rumours about a new Dimlite album titled Prismic Valuta Rising, but ultimately the project was cancelled. Luckily, some of the remainders will finally see the light of day via the “Prismic Tops EP”. Coming out on Now-Again, it includes the previously heard tracks Kalimba Lifeswamp and “Sun-sized Twinkles”, the latter was featured on the Essential Mix by Flying Lotus.

One of the new tracks is Dimlite’s take on Gap Mangione’s “Diana In The Autumn Wind“. The original version was prominently sampled by J Dilla for Slum Village and the Jaylib album. Dimlite’s version goes by the name of “Diana Won’t” and is offered for his label.

Label: Now-Again
Catalog#: NA5060
Release date: May-04-2010
Format: mp3
Quality: 320 kbps
Size: ~90 MB
Genre: Electronic / Hip-Hop
Style: Wonky


Tracklist:

01. Kalimba Deathswamp/Kurt Feelings
02. On The Same Picture w/ Elan Tamara
03. Firevomit (O.D.N.)
04. Sun-Sized Twinkles
05. Elbow Flood
06. Rump Studies w/ Ketepica
07. Cant Get Used To Those (Afterlude)
08. Elbow Flood (Instrumental)
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