A restless glow runs through LIQUID.LATEX.DISCO.DADDY., the latest chapter from The New Citizen Kane, an artist who has steadily reshaped his sonic identity into something tactile and emotionally charged. This release doesn’t simply follow the brighter tones of its predecessor—it pivots, deliberately, into a more nocturnal headspace. The result is a body of work that feels less like a continuation and more like a descent, guided by rhythm, texture, and a certain kind of controlled abandon.
At its core, the album is rooted in deep house, though it rarely settles into predictable patterns. The rhythmic architecture is meticulous but never sterile. Drum programming leans into classic four-on-the-floor foundations, yet subtle syncopations and percussive accents create a push-and-pull sensation that keeps the listener slightly off balance—in a good way. Kicks land with a softened punch, wrapped in low-end warmth, while hi-hats flicker in and out of the mix with an almost improvisational looseness. It’s club-oriented, yes, but also introspective, as if the dancefloor exists somewhere internal rather than physical.
The synth work is where the project truly expands. Layers are treated less as decorative elements and more as emotional carriers. Elastic basslines stretch and recoil beneath the surface, often driving entire sections without ever overwhelming them. Pads drift in slow, vaporous waves, occasionally dissolving into granular fragments before reassembling. There’s a cinematic sensibility here, though it never becomes overbearing. Instead, the textures feel lived-in—slightly worn at the edges, intentionally imperfect. Analog warmth collides with digital sharpness, creating a sonic palette that feels both nostalgic and forward-facing.
Tracks like the opening “WHAT’S HIS NAME?” establish a mood that lingers throughout: enigmatic, slightly voyeuristic, and grounded in late-night ambiguity. The vocal presence, including contributions from long-time collaborator Red Man Runs, is used sparingly but effectively. Rather than dominating the mix, voices appear as fleeting signals—half-heard phrases, layered harmonies, distant echoes. This approach reinforces the album’s atmosphere of fragmentation, where identity and narrative are suggested rather than fully revealed.
One of the most striking aspects of LIQUID.LATEX.DISCO.DADDY. is its relationship with its own material. These are not straightforward remixes. Familiar compositions are dismantled and rebuilt, often retaining only a skeletal trace of their original form. Basslines deepen into something more viscous, rhythms tighten into hypnotic loops, and melodic motifs are stretched into elongated, almost surreal shapes. The effect is transformative rather than referential—less about revisiting the past and more about reframing it under a different light, or perhaps, in this case, under flickering neon.
New inclusions, particularly “(TRIP) UNRAVELLING,” act as anchors within the project’s shifting terrain. Here, the rhythmic drive becomes more insistent, bordering on trance-inducing, while the synth lines spiral upward in a way that feels both liberating and slightly disorienting. It captures the paradox embedded throughout the record: a sense of release intertwined with tension, as if each moment of clarity is immediately followed by a return to abstraction.
Elsewhere, collaborations extend the album’s reach without diluting its identity. “FORGET THE TRENDS,” shaped alongside DJ DUTY, introduces subtle rhythmic variations that hint at broader global influences, yet it remains firmly embedded within the album’s cohesive sonic language. Even the unexpected reinterpretation of a rock classic is handled with a kind of calculated risk—transformed into an acid-tinged excursion that feels deliberately unstable, yet strangely compelling.
Atmosphere plays a crucial role across the entire runtime. This is music that thrives in dimly lit spaces—both literal and emotional. There’s a constant interplay between sensuality and restraint, between polished surfaces and underlying grit. The production invites immersion, but it never fully resolves, leaving traces of ambiguity that linger beyond each track’s conclusion.
From a broader perspective, LIQUID.LATEX.DISCO.DADDY. stands as a carefully constructed statement. It reflects an artist who is not merely refining his sound but actively reshaping it, embracing complexity without sacrificing accessibility. It’s a release that rewards close listening while still functioning within a club context—a balance that is not easily achieved.
Ultimately, this is a high-quality project that we are genuinely pleased to feature and explore within our editorial space. It doesn’t chase trends or lean on nostalgia; instead, it builds its own internal logic, one rhythm and one texture at a time.
