Andrew Veeder on December 11th, 2013

0

Not much is known about Leaving Records’ underground beatmaker Dakim, the Detroit native who now resides in Berkeley. But following his recent performance at Los Angeles’ Boiler Room and the Stones Throw release of his new album “6F00FF,” this may soon change. His work serves to rebut the phrase “drum machines have no soul,” with its own unique cacophony of deconstructive grooves, irregular samples and unconventional production showing influence from Detroit’s dark electronic history as well as the diverse L.A. beat scene. The digital- and cassette-only release “6F00FF” showcases his dense and signature style with eight tracks clocking in at just over 21 minutes. Multiple tracks fly ahead like the bastard children of Flying Lotus and DJ Rashad, with the fast-paced barrage of eclectic production and a synth-y rhythm of “Corner Pocket” or the muffled and disjointed lo-fi percussion of “Frogger.” “Stillyellow” sounds like an outtake from the “Blade Runner” soundtrack, moody and captivating. And “Title Track” begins with a lush and swirling melody that twinkles before a beat percolates upward through the mix, stuttering and lumbering forward until it bubbles over with a cascade of bleeps and blips and shimmers to a close.

||| Stream: “Title Track”