Millia
Sprawll
Future Times
Do you like Purelink? Then there’s a pretty excellent chance that you’ll like the latest offering from NYC-based producer Millia, who A) happens to be a founding member of the acclaimed ambient techno trio and B) swims in sonically similar waters on his new Sprawll EP. Smudgy atmospheres and weightless textures abound across the record’s four tracks, two of which are essentially much dubbed-out reworks of the others. “Sidetrip Sprawl,” for example, opens the proceedings with an enticing suite of glistening pads and steady (albeit not terribly forceful) drums, but those drums disappear entirely on “Sidetrip Crawl,” a woozier, waterlogged cut which feels like the musical equivalent of calmly chilling at the bottom of the nearest pool.
“Spinwheel Guide” is more of a late-night cruiser, and its intoxicating blend of ethereal keys and fathoms-deep bass tones evokes images of low-lit rooms and ill-advised cigarettes being smoked in the wee hours of the morning. “Spinwheel Dub,” on the other hand, cranks the reverb to 11 and sluggishly drifts into the abyss, though its trek toward oblivion is eventually interrupted by the emergence of a faintly pulsing rhythm that recalls Splazsh-era Actress. As musical left turns go, it’s honestly pretty minor, but if Millia ever feels the need to push past the confines of Purelink, or simply wishes do another little something on his own, heading further down the path of “Spinwheel Dub” would not be a bad way to go.