Jex Opolis: Ambiente LP

Having previously flitted between revivalist proto-house, synth-powered dub disco, deep house and muscular big room 90s NYC house heaviness, Jared Philip aka Jex Opolis has decided to return to his downtempo and Balearic roots. Hence Ambiente, the Good Timin' founder's first full-length excursion in five years. For the most part it's not 'ambient' in the strict 'beatless' sense of the term, but rather a fine collection of warming, colourful and ear-catching downtempo jams that variously draw influence from jeep beat-style hip-hop, street soul, Italian dream house, the head-nodding warmth of 90s ambient house, the stoned excellence of early Fila Brazillia and slow-motion, mind-mangling acid jams.