Lone - Lemurian

Cutler has made a name for himself in recent years as a groundbreaking producer, with LPs Galaxy Garden (2012) and Reality Testing (2014) being championed by fans and fellow producers alike. When we revisit his classic debut, however, it’s easy to see where it all began.

The most obvious contrast to Lone's later work is the downbeat, instrumental hip-hop feel of Lemurian. Take tracks such as "Maya Codex", "Phthalo Blue" and "Mirror Suns" that pay reference to some of the greats - Flying Lotus, J Dilla, Madlib and Boards Of Canada - artists that Cutler has never been shy to admit were some of his biggest influences when starting out. While you can't imagine hearing tracks like these in a bustling nightclub in Elephant and Castle at 3am, Lemurian still captures the magical vibe of summer and would sit perfectly alongside your 6pm barberque or pre-night out drinks.

Colour is also such an important part of Cutler's ethos, in both a musical and visual sense. Bright, futuristic artwork always seems to accompany each Lone record and the deluxe reissue is no exception. This seems to be reflected in the music, with bold instrumentation congesting the mix, but though the majority of the tracks seem heavily compressed, Cutler takes great care with clarity, making sure each instrument cuts through when required. Evidently, take a listen to the warped synth melodies in "Atoll Mirrored".

The production on this record is second to none and has benefited greatly from the handy work of Matt Colton throughout the remastering process. The use of processed beats and recycling of old material gives the record a superb nostalgic feel, something that Lone seemed to avoid on his later, crisper releases.

Cutler has asserted himself as one of the UK's current most interesting producers and has developed a signature sound that makes his records instantly recognisable. Lemurian is certainly one to enjoy this summer and reminds us just how significant his earlier work still is to British electronic music.