Let's set the bar high, shall we? This is one of the nicest flowing electronic releases I've heard in years. Now that I've satiated your appetite with hyperbole, let's get into the justification.  Beat Culture, AKA Sunik Kim has crafted 40 minutes of headphone bliss in the form of atmospheric synths, big round hip hop beats, heavenly vocal samples and...  water?  What is it about nature's most organic element that makes it work so well with what is generally considered the most inorganic method of music making? Various sounds of running water weave between the tracks, taking the listener on a lazy river ride through familiar genre conventions that sound as fresh as the river you're drifting on.

The recipe is nothing new, but a great meal isn't about the ingredients, it's about the cook.  With such an accomplished sound, you'd think Kim was older than the tender age of 17.  The music I typically hear from 17 years olds is bursting with raw emotion and longing, and only age and experience can generally solidify that emotion into something tangible and controlled. It's rare that you find a release that has both the wide eyed wonder of youth and the confident maturity of experience. For music that is typically about hiding your personality behind a computer screen, Beat Culture is wearing his heart on his sleeve.

As a cherry on top, Kim is offering a free download of the album, so head over to his bandcamp page to get it. Or, if you're feeling charitable, you can drop 5 bucks on it and help put this kid through college.

Album Grade - A


If Only by Beat Culture