Winterval

British electronic artist Sam Willis takes a break from his ambient duo project Walls to release his first solo album. An intelligent, seductive blend of straightforward beats and chilly synth textures, Winterval maintains a consistent mood even as the tempos and sonic textures shift from the sparse, reflective opener "Hello Wendy" to the Warp Records-style experimental techno of "Seven Down Six Across." The eight-minute title track is the most immediately catchy track, with the melodic shimmer of vintage Caribou, but the entire album repays both careful listening and dance floor abandon.