I love electronic music that encourages, embraces, and enhances a mood. Whether you’re on the dance floor or donning high-performance headphones, sometimes we need music that does more than set a vibe. It should be deeper, something that reaches the foundation. It should inculcate an enduring essence or deliver palpable power. I’m talking about a true, abiding presence that actively enraptures the listener.
Which is exactly what I hear in the music of Lynyn.
The stage name of Conor Mackey, he creates an ebullient and thoughtful brand of IDM that finds me rejecting that convenient genre descriptor and searching for something better. This Windy City native fuses Chicago house with British garage, resulting in impeccable 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. tunes. Released on Sooper, the ten songs of Ixona feature deft blend of footwork and post-dubstep that calls to mind Squarepusher, Kode 9, Jlin, and Actress.
The album bursts with kinetic verve that’s perfect for dancing or driving with friends deep into the night without ever going over the top. Mackey obviously loves deep bass grooves, but he’s equally enamored with heavy syncopation. He employs a barrage of sharp snare snaps that does its damnedest to distract from the fact that the songs sit in 4/4 time. Additionally, a bevy of enchanting vocal samples and airy synth pads further intoxicate the listener. Hearty rhythmic ideas dance with jazzy fills to develop a propulsive passion, courtesy of clattering breakbeats that never fall apart.
Ixona feels like a complete night out.
The first half slowly increases the BPMs and intensity, beckoning you deeper into musical euphoria. The opening triptych of “Nobody Knows Me,” “Roll 5321,” and “Versillitude” provides this keen, hypnotic bounce that propels you headlong into the groove. What begins as spectral and curious eventually coalesces into funky and joyful trip-hop. But on the second half, tracks like “4 am Hiero” and “The Fold” supply glitched-out slow burns perfect for relaxing with the right people. Think of it as a balance between light and dark, going out and going home, introversion and extroversion.
Throughout Ixona, Lynyn brings to life a rapturous brand of electronic music that’s dance-forward and crafted with refined intention. His songs evince a stunning fullness that welcomes mystery and inspires action. The overall effect is lush without being hazy and rich without being heavy. It’s smart, yet fun music, with heady layers that compel your full attention and your best moves.