If the AD93 label from Manchester has primarily taken care of offset club music, especially in its early years, which has been able to draw attention to itself with desert breaks and ancient techno, it has recently become much more focused on exciting alternative pop designs. Sure, the quotes for “pop” must practically always be considered. Because also Friend, the new, third album by New Yorker Jamie Krasner aka James K, feels most comfortable in the outskirts.
Recommendations of the editorial team
Where melodies drive around when they are looking for beats that can be used to do a little more than just bring the catchy tune to the finish, and at the same time pack y2k style, bedroom indie and hyper-pop. This looks super modern, but still always looks at a diffuse idea of nostalgia with one eye.
The fact that on this excellent album, for example under the ballad “Idea.2” a creaked IDM track bubbles, or the noise pop in “Play” Shoegaze, Tripphop and drum n ‘Bass brings on board to create retrofuturist hits that can be surprised after each junction and reminds you in a good mood and reminds you with every tone Yesterday, which was certainly not better, but at least dropped good music.
This review first appeared in the MusikExpress 09/2025.