I believe it takes a good artisan to make something in the style of somebody else and get very close to it, but it takes a great one to go beyond that and turn all your influences into something new and fresh.
Kaytranada seems to be able to pull ideas and inspiration from about every corner of the last 50 years of r&b and still push it way forward into the future.
As with all of his records, I'm more drawn towards the tracks with ambitious non-hip-hop inspired production that draws on genres from disco to latin groove.
The hour+ track list doesn't hold my attention all the way through but I cannot deny that Kaytranada continues to rip when it counts.
It is a mystery to me how one of the most outstanding DJ producers of contemporary times is undervalued in such a systematic way. KAYTRANADA's work is cult, and TIMELESS is the most recent stone in an impeccable sonic cathedral.
The production is consistently great on this. However, it's still missing the magic of 99.9%. The features are more hit or miss and some of the instrumentals struggle to get anywhere. The front half of the record (minus "Dance Dance Dance Dance") is really terrific and there are consistently enough bangers that you don't have to wait too long between them. This is definitely an album to be experienced live, just like Bubba. Overall satisfactory, but not wowing me.