Following 2020’s awesome Fading, Stefan Betk—aka Pole—is back with another fine album that fuses electronic, dub, jazz and ambient in a rich and compelling manner. The compositions are complex and unfold like a fractal with connected themes that are immersive, deep, and colorful. Betke’s production is involved, clear, and uses space in a way that’s similar to dub with a deep sense of mysteriousness and intrigue. All of the tracks have a unique feel to them but they also flow together cohesively and the album feels like a statement. Pole has been around for a while now and Betke’s work has been remarkably consistent but also constantly forward-thinking. A very strong release and another welcome addition to the Pole catalog. 

Mute