Austin Cesear - West Side (2014) Lossless

And so we present a second record from our NY via San Francisco family, a blossoming talent, Austin Cesear. Primed and fresh from a 12” on Anthony Naples’ Proibito label and an Opal Tapes cassette, he surfaces again over a year on from his widely revered Cruise Forever LP – welcome to West Side.

Heavily inspired by the dockside location of Oakland Port, CA. This is Austin Cesear beside black water in the darkest hours, white sodium light bouncing across the surf. Searching across the bay, industry stands proud in the early morning haze. Cargo, containers, machines. Cranes pierce the sky, gulls scream, motors grind - the rush and roar of a new working day in his ears.

Back in the studio these sounds, these sights manifest. Track One – La Paloma, the liquid blue dawn, loops into the horizon. Whilst track two – Ain’t It So (Necessary) becomes a twitchy techno shuffle that soon breaks down into the disused mechanic sludge of Cloven Hoov. Easy Bend is then a lesson in the sublime. A machine rhythm in mourning, an aching drone, the soundtrack to ships rolling out of the Bay, toward new worlds. Then the growl of Samareda... a storm of insects hammering against a kick-thump that grows and grows before a shower of voices sweeten the mood to take us home in a blaze of light. Stunning tackle. Bee Free (Warlick Mix) is the endgame – a rugged swagger of moody bump n’ beat. The funkiest thing on here.

And so we leave Oakland, we leave Austin Cesear... until next time. This young producer is steadily becoming a mature soul, an exceptional sound, a moment of calm in an ever breathless, over crowded market.