Lee Bannon
“Place/Crusher”
Place/Crusher EP (out now on NinjaTune)
Listed as a one-song EP, the Sacramento native’s debut for legendary UK label Ninja Tune is an engulfing 23-minute ride through the murky mind of one of the best young beatsmiths around. Bannon gained notoriety through his excellent work with Pro Era (Joey Bada$$, especially), but he truly shines on his experimental, expansive solo work.
Place/Crusher‘s genre-hopping movements keep the journey fresh, and Bannon’s deft use of negative space and urbane, melancholic soundscapes are reminiscent of genre kingpins Burial and Flying Lotus. Obviously, it isn’t easy to keep a listener’s attention for 23 minutes (especially in this day and age), but the 26 year-old’s current high watermark does it with ease, revealing more of its genius with every subsequent listen.
