Julien Dyne - Teal (2xLP) 2018 (Mint (M))

Teal, released October 2018 on Soundway Records, is New Zealand drummer and producer Julien Dyne's shift toward a more uptempo, Afro-inspired, dancefloor-oriented sound than his earlier hip-hop-leaning work. Dyne grew up around Wellington's jazz scene through his bassist father and later played in the hardcore band Diecast and the group Opensouls, alongside saxophonist Cameron Allen and guitarist Jeremy Toy, before going solo. The eleven-track record features Mara TK, Ladi6 and Fat Freddy's Drop's Toby Laing, with the Ladi6 collaboration "Hours" picking up BBC airplay and a spot on a Maribou State compilation.