Album Review: AIN'T NO DAMN WAY! by Kaytranada

The Canadian producer takes centre-stage on this head-bobbing record Since his commercial breakthrough in the mid-2010s, Kaytranada albums tend to feature the producer accompanying various R&B vocalists from Kali Uchis to Phonte to Childish Gambino. Ain’t No Damn Way! switches things up, as various instrumental and sample-based arrangements bump along entertainingly with no distractions, and Kaytranada's beatmaking chops are placed in the spotlight. The shuffling groove (courtesy of Tangerine Dream) and 4×4 pulse of Championship are excellent, a wistful electric piano lead popping up every few bars and a moody ostinato filling out the mid-range.

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No matter the success, Kaytra has never strayed from his signature sound and always kept the fans nourished with SoundCloud single drops and EPs -- and his willingness to eschew industry standards, announcing new album Ain't No Damn Way! just days before its release. The follow-up to last year's Timeless comes as a welcome surprise, given its quality and the singular fact that it sees producer seemingly return to his roots. Indeed, from the artwork (by local artist and Dime designer Vincent Tsang) to the studio and vinyl records used during the album's creation, everything harkens back to Kaytranada's old sonic stomping grounds circa 2013's Kaytra Todo.

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