Available on: Orca 12″

There’s not much difference between the first thirty seconds of ‘Gamma Rain’, the latest single by Toronto producer XI, and the last thirty seconds. A few extra squiggles here, an altered oscillation there – that’s about it.

It’s not a track that particularly builds or drops or expands – sure, more elements are added over time, but that’s not what ‘Gamma Rain”s about. It’s about how it sounds. It sounds exquisite. It’s incredibly visual, like a rare creature coming into view, temporarily dazzling you and then leaving, as detailed and vivid as anything you’ve ever seen before. Whether it’s something you’d see in outer space or underwater is probably down to you.

Anna Russell