Returning for the release of her fifth career studio album, British artist Maya Jane Coles reignites a number of old partnerships, alongside multiple first time collaborations. Her 16-track Night Creature LP brings features from Claudia Kane, Julia Stone, Lie Ning, and Karin Park, the latter of which also being responsible for an excellent top line on one of Maya’s biggest tracks, Everything. The album brings plenty more of what the half-Japanese musician has become known for over the years – delivering
highly emotive and expertly crafted club tunes in a simplified and straight forward form factor. At 16 tracks you would assume there’s quite a bit of filler thrown in, but after a few listens through the album, there’s really only two or three tracks which we would go without. Whether it’s the soft-centred hypnotic house sounds, the deep and chunky tech drums, or the vocal echoes from Claudia Kane and others, this one is an excellent showcase of Maya’s talents as a producer, and certainly stands tall against anything else we’ve heard this year. Night Creature comes via her own record label, I/AM/ME, where we have previously seen appearances from the likes of Dense & Pika, Wax Wings, Curses, and Gaps – among others. When discussing the album, Maya said “When it comes to my music making, I’ve pretty much always been a creature of the night. My creativity tends to work at its best during those peaceful hours when my surroundings are at a standstill and I feel completely in my own world. Then on the flip side, in the club, the night can shift into some of the most energetic and ecstatic moments in time.”
Where to start:
True Love To The Grave: Modulated synth work & vocals from Claudia Kane
Light: Filtered basslines meet the voice of Karin Park
Run To You: Some of the best sounds on the album
Previous from Maya Jane Coles:
Full Circle LP (2019, I/AM/ME)
Take Flight LP (2017, I/AM/ME)
If you like this then check out:
Hot Since 82 – 8-track LP (2019, Knee Deep In Sound)
Catz ’n Dogz – Moments LP (2020, Pets Recordings)
Maya Jane Coles – Night Creature LP is out now on I/AM/ME.