Canadian producer and DJ Kaytranada has spent the past decade perfecting the art of the bounce. Since his dancefloor-focused rework of Janet Jackson’s 1993 track If went viral in 2013, Kaytranada – real name Louis Celestin – has released three albums characterised by a rhythmic swing that lands between the beats to produce an infectious swagger.
After 2023’s funk-fuelled collaborative record with rapper Aminé, Celestin’s latest solo album is a 21-track odyssey through the cornerstones of his club-ready style. Almost every song boasts a guest, from singer Tinashe to bassist Thundercat, but rather than overwhelming Celestin’s sound, his collaborators find space within his productions. Rapper Channel Tres weaves his baritone growl amid bass-shaking breakbeat rhythms on Drip Sweat, for instance, while singer Charlotte Day Wilson soars soulfully over Celestin’s chopped melodic samples on Still.
With so many tracks, the album can feel overstuffed, especially with several tonally similar R&B tunes. Yet, the highlights ultimately outweigh the filler. On Dance Dance Dance Dance Celestin reaches the apex of his swing, interspersing horn fanfares with piano stabs to create a modern house classic guaranteed to make you move.
Source: theguardian.com
