reviewed by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This may be Luke Abbott’s first album in six years, but as regular followers of the Norfolk-based musician will know, he has been extremely busy in that time, forming the widely acclaimed Szun Waves with Jack Wyllie and Laurence Pike.

For this album Abbott changed his recording habits, decamping to friend and Border Community head James Holden’s London studio for the sessions. He sat in the centre of the studio with eight speakers around, but had an additional receiver in the corridor to catch passing sounds on the industrial estate where the studio is located.

What’s the music like?

Richly rewarding. As listeners to previous long players Holkham Drones and Wysing Forest will know, Abbott has a deep knowledge of synthesizers and orchestrating their sounds, and that skill runs throughout Translate to extremely good effect. Kagen Sound – a track celebrating the puzzle box – is a really strong start, a majestic track with some wonderful analogue tones.

Earthship feels like the workings of a great big machine lumbering into action, while the way the melodic lines intertwine on Our Scene is really clever. The mellow Roses may be brief but it shows how Abbott can harness the different tones of his instruments, coming as it does after the ripple effects of Ames Window, a really substantial piece of work.

To his immense credit Abbott puts a great deal into his rhythm section, very rarely using a basic four to the floor pattern and often using, in tracks like Living Dust, intriguing syncopations that lean the main beats anywhere he chooses. Finally Luna and August Prism close out the album in kaleidoscopic colour.

Does it all work?

Yes. Abbott is meticulous with his planning and quality control, and the production with James Holden has led to a nice air of spontaneity in his work. The sounds are to die for as well.

Is it recommended?

Yes. A study in instrumental colour and rhythmic intrigue, Translate is an album that handsomely repays repeated listening.

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