UK talent Laurence Guy was among the wave of producers who found staggering levels of recognition through random YouTube uploads and lofi-tinged club sounds. Though he’s since matured into a fully fledged artist who’s just dropped his second album. Following on from ‘Saw You For The First Time’, which arrived on Church back in 2017, his new ‘Living Like There’s No Tomorrow, But Killing Yourself In The Process’ LP is not only a step up musically, but is much more diverse and level headed. While
there’s nothing wrong with his inaugural long player being a very back to basics collection of low energy club sounds, the follow up is much more eclectic, with its backbone house sound being met with hints of jazz, hiphop, and ambient, and it trades in the sampled vocals for much more fleshed out top lines from guest vocalists, with features including the likes of WAYNE SNOW, Chester Watson, Miller Blue, deem spencer, KiLLOWEN, and Jamal Buchanan. It still pushes a big dancefloor narrative in places, but overall it’s a record that could work in almost any environment, and in terms of sonic clarity it doesn’t skip a beat. From the spoken word aesthetic on ‘Let The World Know’, to the piano interlude on ‘Pissing In The Personal Growth Room’, to ‘Ways’ sounding like it was lifted straight off a Vince Staples record, this one has a little bit of something for everyone, and a lot for those with an open mind.
Where to start:
The Sun: Softened drum hits, pitched up vocals, and brass melodies
On Your Side: Chopped up vocal rhythms sit atop warming basslines
Scenes I See: UK-focused downtempo house anthem
Previous from Laurence Guy:
Saw You For The First Time LP (2017, Church)
Your Good Times Are Here EP (2021, Shall Not Fade)
If you like this then check out:
Folamour – Manifesto LP (2023, FHUO)
Aleksandir – Skin LP (2021, Omena)
Laurence Guy – Living Like There’s No Tomorrow, But Killing Yourself In The Process LP is out now on Accidental Pieces.