Audiopile Review: Shop fave Anthony Naples returns with his sixth long player, marking somewhat of a departure from the effervescent breaks and sci-fi-tinted downtempo he’s been refining on future classics like Orbs, Chameleon or Take Me With You. But that run of five LPs is only one side of the NYC producer, who, alongside running his own ANS imprint and co-running Incienso, now also helms an A&R position at XL (possibly why DJ Python just released a 12”er for the label??). Before debuting on the long format via Four Tet’s Text imprint with a fusion of muddy house and obtuse IDM on the gloriously tripped Body Pill, Naples was dishing sought after 12” dance floor heaters for labels like Mister Saturday Night, Rubadub, Trilogy Tapes, and his own Proibito. After reportedly scrapping an entire album that was slated for release, Naples makes a surprising return to those formative years with Scanners, an album that is easily his most dance friendly in a long run of experimenting with form. This switch up, which is actually more of a lateral sidestep than it might appear at first, is highly reminiscent of Brian Leeds turn towards finely detailed minimalist techniques with his Loidis LP from last year—not coincidentally issued via Incienso. On its surface the tracks play out with an almost devious simplicity—kinetic sequences play out atop subtle kicks and reliable rhythms, streamlined with an almost austere touch. Naples’ bottomless rhythmic workouts can distract from the rich detail that he’s stealthily injected them with, but peel the layers back a bit and sumptuous worlds await. Fractured piano lines, luscious vocal loops, sheening FX, and dubby textures drop into the mix, fading out as soon as they begin to grow familiar, only to make space for the next succulent detail to come along and entice. Simultaneously steely and opulent, Scanners is Naples operating at the peak of his powers. One of the year’s best and another must grip in one of the greatest runs in electronic music.

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After a two-year hiatus following his critically acclaimed fifth album Orbs, Anthony Naples returns with his sixth album, Scanners, featuring ten new songs.