Albrecht La’Brooy - Tidal River (2018)

Given the soft-focus drowsiness and field recordings-smothered nature of their previous releases on Analog Attic and Night Tide, Alex Albrecht and Sean La'Brooy's collaborative project seems a neat fit on R&S's downtempo-focused Apollo sub-label. Typically, they've used to opportunity provided to dive even further into crystal clear ambient waters. While the EP contains a couple of gentle Balearic house shufflers (see the sun-kissed laziness of "Last Night" and effortlessly groovy "Sealers Cove"), it's the more straight-up ambient efforts that really sparkle. Check, in particular, the Johnny Nash style guitar bliss of "Daybreak" and "Darby Saddle", and the becalmed, liquid piano solos of EP standout "Tidal River", which reminded us a little of Aqua Bassino's downtempo classic "Na Na's Waltz".