Album Review: Jlin – Akoma

By: Grant Kelly, Contributor

[Planet Mu; 2024]

Rating: 8/10

Key Tracks: “Borealis“, “Open Canvas”, “Eye Am”

Akoma is the newest addition to the growing discography of DJ, composer, and Indiana native Jlin. For the past several years, she has become known as a premier producer of boundary-pushing electronic music, whose work frequently infuses classical instrumentation and a biting industrial edge into near-incomprehensibly complex footwork beats. While Akoma indeed follows in the footsteps of her previous releases stylistically, the album carries with it a fresh sense of grandiosity and adventure, adorned with an impressive list of featured artists such as Björk, Philip Glass, and San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet. With so much going for it, one could reasonably expect to be blown away by what the album has to offer—and Akoma doesn’t disappoint.

“Borealis” is a strong opening track, being built around Jlin’s trademark frenetic drum programming and jagged sound palette, with an enhanced focus on timbral exploration that never strays too far from her dance ethos. “Speed of Darkness” continues to set the tone for the rest of the album, introducing more acoustic percussion into the mix with mystifying chimes that weave in between crackling electronic drums. “Summon” casts more light on the album’s orchestral side, with unnerving string and horn harmonies that slowly become warped and chopped into booming, offbeat rhythms. The track also reveals one of Akoma’s other strengths, which is how it’s able to bring out the similar but unique abilities that classical music and contemporary electronic music possess for creating dynamic tension.

“Challenge (To Be Continued II)” and “Open Canvas” are more familiar EDM-leaning tracks with invigorating layers of syncopated drums, with the latter containing some of the most evocative organic textures on the album. The gentle plucks and ticks found in the track, reminiscent of an old music box, establish a blissful resonance while still leaving room for heavy breakdowns lined with acidic snares and horn blasts. “Eye Am” is one of the most acoustic tracks on the album sonically, but it explores the nuanced techniques and ranges of sounds possible with traditional wind and percussion instruments in such a way that the lines between natural and synthetic textures are blurred through sheer instrumental proficiency. Following this track, “Auset” and “Grannie’s Cherry Pie” relish in the more conventional Jlin sound, with sparse but unyielding rhythms that leave room for whimsical, oceanic synth melodies.

“The Precision of Infinity” serves as a well-earned victory lap for the album, constructed around urgent, expertly-performed hand drum rhythms, intercut with entrancing piano and vocal loops provided by minimalist composer extraordinaire Philip Glass. The track provides a necessary cooldown period from the album’s otherwise breakneck pace in a way that doesn’t completely ditch the momentum accumulated to this point.

The album is wild and unrestrained in its energy, yet as a listening experience never feels out of the hands of its performers. Every sample chop, rhythmic flourish, and earth-rattling sub-bass hit feels perfectly orchestrated, even if beyond my own comprehension as a musician. Akoma is not only one of the most exciting and elaborate dance albums you’ll hear this year, it’s also a righteous celebration of the collective history of musical traditions across culture and time.

Listen here: