Album Review: Rojus (Designed to Dance) by Leon Vynehall

Following the word-of-mouth success of Leon Vynehall's joyous 2014 debut LP, Music for the Uninvited, the British house producer returned with an equally triumphant sophomore full-length in 2016. Rojus is Lithuanian for heaven or paradise, and everything on this album points to a relaxed, lovely time, without any hint of melancholy or anger. The record equally lives up to its subtitle, Designed to Dance -- apart from the upward-spiraling intro "Beyond This," the album is entirely aimed at the dancefloor, doing away with the downtempo interludes of Uninvited.

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Leon Vynehall's music is an artful blend of punchy and plush. Since the British producer started putting out records, in 2012, his music has blended the tough, percussive energy of contemporary UK house music, with its muscled low end, with the rich harmonies of sample-centric producers in a continuum that stretches through Pal Joey, Moodymann, Pépé Bradock, and Four Tet. Stylistically, he hasn't changed much since his first singles.

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Leon Vynehall makes house music with the heart of a singer/songwriter and the soul of '90s hip-hop. Samples are treated like memories—captured, cherished and shared—and songs tell stories that play out like secondhand déjà vu. The Brighton-based artist used childhood keepsakes to write his breakout record, 2014's Music For The Uninvited. Pieces from his mother's record collection, old video games, mixtapes and more built the foundation for seven flawless tracks, which ranged from bright and wistful to lush and groovy.

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