One of this year’s most intriguing artists, RⱯHM, impressed with his incredibly unique take on emotive experimental music. He doesn’t make things easy to Google, though, as he dropped SO CLOSE BUT So o º ˚ ˚ ˚ f ƒ ª a r ®️˚ on July 30th. It’s an eleven-track album of subtle musical prowess. While lopping pianos twinkle in the background and airy textures give a feeling of floaty atmospheric music, there is a sinister undertone coming from the experimental electronic influences that bleed into each track. That said, it isn’t all melancholy and balladry. There are undeniable grooves threading through the lo-fi funk of ‘tree in a sidewalk’ with its twisted vocal samples and crunchy synth-work that keeps the ball rolling on ‘that kinda dead feeling on the inside (yeah yeah yeah yeah)’. Our personal favourite, ‘Semiautomatical’, opens the record. In his trademark style, he gives the track a loose explanation: “It's the feeling of sticking your hand out the window of a moving car and letting your palm pitch and dive with the wind. Knowing that even on the highway humanity thrives.” Take a look at his chaotic website for an insight into this artist’s mind. -Dan Peeke