Probably one of the most pop releases that the electronic label have been associated with in a while, Scottish beatsmith Hudson Mohawke’s second artist album on Warp resembles Giorgio Moroder’s effort this week: a hot producer’s compilation, featuring guest vocalists. How different this one is, though. Although Drake and Kanye, HudMo’s most high-profile clients, stay away, singers such as Antony Hegarty put nuance into tracks such as the burnished Indian Steps, while slick R&B crooner Miguel sings over Deepspace’s echoey rhythms and a surprise guitar histrionic. The most earwormy track of all – Scud Books – is literally thrown away here, a killer beat that could have been sold on to any pop star. Although Lantern strains more than a few sinews, trying to show everything Mohawke can do (sensitive soul remakes, apocalyptic digitals) there’s room for raw touches such as Lil Djembe, which recall the trap beats that made HudMo’s name.
