If one thing is clear about Winnetka based artist Flying Lotus, aka Steven Ellison, that is his inclination towards making great music and keeping a low profile. Being only his second album, Reset EP is a fusion of hip-hop, jazz and electronica that has a melancholy, dreamy feel to it and delivers an experience that makes Thievery Corporaion sound mainstream. With only six songs the album migh seem short but each song is a gem. Brighton-based singer/songwriter Andreya Triana provides sultry soul vocals for the opening cut, “Tea Leaf Dancers”. The song Spicy Sammich incorporated brazilian rhythms, a drum machine and tripped out vocals – an instrant favorite to restless but music savy souls. With this album, Flying Lotus lives up to his reputation as an “left-field instrumental hip-hop artist” and underground producer. Not to forget that Steven Ellison has talent running in his blood and great music in this upbringing – his great-aunt is Alice Coltrane, pianist, harpist, composer and wife of avant-garde jazz musician John Coltrane.

When he’s not dj-ing around the world Flying Lotus is getting busy bringing us more of his unique sounds igniting a sort of soul/funk revival into the next phase of instrumental hip hop with an unmatched subtlety and smoothness.

Reviewed by Klementine Rahneva