British electronic musician Zomby has released a steady stream of records since 2008, including a stint on venerable British label 4AD. Mercury’s Rainbow, a vinyl-only collection of recordings from 2008, compiles many of his early sonic experiences. While his music has always been challenging, there’s a certain level of uncertainty about the songs offered on this release, the sound of a young man feeling out his identity and trying out numerous ideas. Though many of these pieces aren’t fully formed ides—many of them start and end abruptly after only a minute or so—it’s on “Mercury’s Rainbow” that he hits a nice stride, eschewing the choppiness and heavy rhythms for an ambience that is dark, cold, foreboding, and yet somehow warm and inviting.
Mercury’s Rainbow is available now from Modern Love.
The Recoup 
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