July 14, 2023
La route du rock "Instants" exhibition, Titouan Massé album cover
Echoing his exhibition "Instants" which took place from July 19 to August 20, 2023 in Saint-
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Friday 21 July 2023, 5PM
Alek Lee is back on Antinote to release his debut LP ‘You’. Covering 16 songs and crafted in the producer’s studio over the past few 4 years, the Tel Avivian has swapped the misty aura of his first two EPs for a smoked out haze. ‘You’ effortlessly blends digi-dub, boogie, and yacht rock to create a washed out, dub-pop sound befitting of its place of recording sat at the edge of the desert and the sea.
If Lee’s earlier works were defined by brooding downtempo beats with kids television vocal samples sprinkled amongst them, then the album hears the producer open himself up to the process of the singer-songwriter, getting behind the microphone and optimistically speaking words of his own. But perhaps that may be put too bluntly. Fankly, Lee fluidly moves between crooning, whispers, gasps all the way to full on ballad style singing effortlessly and with ease. His newly develop vocal experiments are too supported by an impressive array of collaborators which can be found in the LP’s liner notes. These collaborations also help to mix far-flung musical styles into the LP. For instance, take Kol Hayom featuring Keren Ilan. It’s a laid-back tune that would sit comfortably beside Rita Lee tropicália. Or Love To Puff You Baby featuring $hkuru, which upends Donna Summer’s bodily groove into a heady bop.
‘You’ is a testament to Alek Lee’s prolific exploration of his own brand of dub: shimmering off-beat guitars, low-fidelity beats and deep grooves. Oh and always a melodica line found somewhere amongst it.
Discover more with the following links
Youtube Playlist • https://www.youtube.com/playlist
Alek Lee Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/aleklee_
Antinote Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/zaltan_antinote/
Antinote Bandcamp • https://antinoterecordings.bandcamp.com/music