Kaytranada - TIMELESS (2024) Hi Res

With the release of Timeless, the third solo LP from Kaytranada (né Louis Kevin Celestin), the 31-year-old producer, rapper, and singer from Canada is once again at the height of his powers. This is saying something, considering the Grammy-winning triumph that was Bubba (2019). KAYTRAMINÉ, a joint venture with rapper Aminé, was received warmly when it came out in 2023, but whisperings of this latest record on social media are testament to the hankering among fans and critics for new solo material. It also marks the start of a summer tour which will see the artist perform big ticket shows and festivals across Europe and North America: Sonar Festival (Barcelona), Parklife (Manchester), and Outside Lands (San Francisco), amongst others.

A beatmaker at heart, Celestin's affinity for Dilla-type hip-hop and low-swung house instrumentals is all over Timeless, particularly on tracks like "Seemingly" and "Pressure." But this has only ever been the basis of Kaytranada's musical voice: he elevates these ingredients, fusing them with indie R&B, soul, and funk elements, extending their potential with the help of a variety of choice collaborators. As part of his own return to the game, an enchanted Childish Gambino blesses the mic over the infectious groove on "Witchy." Elsewhere, the slick, funky R&B of "Video' sublimates with an accomplished vocal performance from Ravyn Lenae, while Anderson .Paak gets jiggy on "Do 2 Me." The double feature from Channel Tres is particularly strong: advance single "Stuntin" oozes flair and swagger, and "Drip Sweat" is an undeniable gem, engineered for maximum live impact.

You can't help but feel that Kaytra allows other artists to steal the spotlight on some of the album's biggest hits, particularly as he largely shies away from the mic in this instance. But by no means does that discount the strength of this release at large, which is at its best when his trademark swing shines through on the instrumentation.