Preparations

On "Preparations," Scott Herren subtly smooths out his signature glitchy, cut-up sampling into a more streamlined blend of bumping hip-hop beats and hazy electronica. These slight alterations/nuances are best highlighted with the swooping melodies and strings of "Class of 73 Bells," which features the psychedelic harmonies of School of Seven Bells. The free jazz stylings of "Aborted Hugs" bounces along to a trippy, fuzzed-out groove and Battles' John Stanier's live drumming propels "Smoking Red." "Prog Version Slowly Crushed" creeps with a dense, syrupy bass synth, and "Let It Go" and "I Knew You Were Gonna Go" recall the ambient strains of Boards of Canada. There's nothing all that innovative here, but "Preparations" is warm and familiar enough to keep the brain buzzing. —Jill Menze