Kaytranada has always been a groove master, knowing exactly how far to push into something cerebral and spiritual, owning the space between introspection and movement. But it took him a long time to get here. Over the course of his first three feature-heavy albums, the Montreal-raised producer evolved from behind the boards as a producer to curator to full-on main act. Now, he is very much the star of the show on Ain’t No Damn Way!, his first-ever album with no original features, one that proves he can stand tall alone.
Across the 12 tracks, laid-back snare thrums, fizzing synths and a buoyant computerised xylophone lull you into a boogie. And just when you think you’ve got it, a quick fade out, stutter or pause jolts you back into motion.