When Art Department set out to make their second album they promised a more “mature and experimental sound.” The Canadian tech house duo of Johnny White and Kenny Glasgow have definitely delivered with Natural Selection. It’s a wide ranging and atmospheric album, more imaginative than the club friendly, hook filled Chicago house of their debut, The Drawing Board. They still have their more dancefloor oriented moments – the bassline driven “It’s Through” and Set Troxler collaboration “Cruel Intentions” – but the duo sticks to slower tempos for most of the album. There are IDM and new wave influences, more ambient moments and the brooding trip hop of “In The Wake.” The album is an interesting follow up to their debut. It shows a much more varied approach as Art Department explore the outer reaches of their sound.

• music label: No.19 Music 2014

reviewed by Le Haim 01/2015