Black Sun

If all of this sounds heady and abstract, fear not. Black Sun is perfectly enjoyable without becoming susceptible to the feeling of dread (bass). There are enough lighter moments, like the hypnotic “Promises” and worm-like Kryon (featuring brother-from-another-coast Flying Lotus) to bring some needed levity. Also, pull apart each track and marvel at Kode9’s engineering. A heavy wallop of dub informs “Neon Red Sign,” yet 2-step and broken beat sections magnify the nod factor. The overall result is like a synthetic dubstep -- the appearance and sensation of the music without the actual parts. The album’s instrumentals “Love is the Drug,” “Black Sun” and “Green Sun” illustrate this point best as Kode9 fills the vocal void with constant rhythmic shifts and tweaked out synths. Unsurprisingly, the album sounds great at home or through head-/earphones. It offers a private moment for you and your imagination. The irony is Black Sun is better-suited for the club. The album’s sounds and ideas are large enough to fill a dark, echoing room. Yet most clubs these days are drinking the fist-pumping Kool-Aid. But we can always imagine, right?