Russian electronic artist
Kedr Livanskiy's early releases contained wintry lo-fi house and jungle tracks with supremely haunting vocal melodies which still resonate several years later. As fantastic as those records were (particularly 2016's January Sun EP), her second full-length, Your Need, outdoes them and feels like nothing less than a creative rebirth. The fog has mostly cleared, and these songs sound much brighter and sunnier. They're also shorter, poppier, and more energetic. Tracks like "Sky Kisses" and "Your Need (Deep Mix)" have pounding beats and immersive, soothing pads influenced by deep house, while "Bounce 2" and "Kiska" have a faster bump to them, informed by electro and ghetto house. "Ivan Kupala (New Day)" is more of a '90s rave flashback, with meaty breakbeats and overdriven bass.
Livanskiy's vocals retain the longing quality that made them stand out before, heightened by the constant reverb and echo that cause them to dance around the speakers. "Why Love" mixes new wave drama with trippy vocal effects, and the more ballad-like "LED" showcases
Livanskiy at her most passionate. Perhaps the oddest diversion is "Lugovoy (November Dub)," which submerges Russian folk singing under an aquatic dub rhythm, and somehow it works splendidly. "City Track" is another winning blend of skittering electro beats, wispy melodies, and subtly bugged-out effects. Both celebratory and melancholy, this is an exceptionally strong album which effortlessly compels repeated listens. ~ Paul Simpson