Ash Koosha - AKTUAL

Score: 7.6 

After a grandiose debut album and a mild sophomore record, Iranian-born, British-established electronic producer Ash Koosha returns with the first part of his trilogy ZUUM, entitled AKTUAL. Though his intentions are clearly futuristic and dystopian, it's the first time we can see some glimpses of the past in the artist's approach to music, thanks to his innovative take on folk and traditional music. The blends between strings and synths have never sounded this blurry, and the more the instrumentalist gets close to the singer role, the more intimate (and almost intrusive) the songs feel. AKTUAL doesn't break new grounds nor it mesmerises with its tumultuous panache, but it certainly marks a shift into the composer's career and sets high bars for the other chapters to come.

Tracks I like the most: Aktual, End The End, Yona 1.1, Magnet

Tracks I like the least: Aroha, Eve

Artist: Ash Koosha

Country: Iran/United Kingdom

Album: AKTUAL

Released: 30/03/2018

Genres: Electronic, Experimental, Glitch Pop, Glitch Hop, Wonky, Folk, World Music, Ambient

Length: 44:16