Kevin Bronson on August 27th, 2020

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Electronic music craftsman Ronald Kaufman — aka Kauf — hadn’t released a solo single since his gorgeous album “Regrowth” in 2017. Not that he’s been slacking: He shepherded a full album remix the following year, did collaborations or remixes with the likes of Overjoy, Lane 8, Ajunadeep and BAILE and, most recently, released a series of mental health-friendly ambient tracks. Not to mention being entreprenurial.

This week, though, brings the release of “Time Pass,” an ethereal track that both evokes the dying art of simply killing time and acknowledges that, in today’s world, one might feel guilty for doing so. Call it hammock pop.

The song, Kauf says, is built around “two ideas — blissful summer lounging and feeling a bit guilty about such hedonism.” He points to the closing refrain: “Can’t tell me it’s not right / don’t tell me it’s not right.” Is it enough to keep you from that nap or daytime reverie?

“I was inspired by this idea of longing for relaxing days on the beach at a time when many beaches in L.A. have been shut down due to COVID-19, but then also feeling like that kind of lifestyle can waste too much time and maybe shouldn’t be glorified too much,” Kauf says. “Obviously, there’s a balance, but considering the social justice movements going on right now, it feels like everyone is realizing we all need to be more involved, so I basically wanted to flip the chillwave tropes on their head but still keep the aesthetic.”

Enjoy it while relaxing in the shade.

||| Stream: “Time Pass”