romal kultaan: no time like the future
Francisco Espregueira
The coolest vibes of May come inside this one. Following releases with YAM, Tiff’s Joints, Dr Banana and Touching Bass, artist Romaal Kultan introduces us to a small 4-track EP entitled No Time Like The Future. This project marks Kultan’s first release on his label, Personal Discs, and showcases a distinct personal trajectory between hip hop, house and broken beat - a sublime work that conjugates skillful production work and a great understanding on how to provide a ‘groove’.
Opener “One Moment Please” is a sassy boom bap affair, with an unexpected nod towards jungle. “Music Room”, made in collaboration with producer Cypriano, is a patient, moody chugger — a tapestry of piano, organic percussion and crackly vinyl samples laced with acid. On the B-side, “Personal Effects” delivers a unique, hypnotic broken beat groove, where swelling synths and a twinkling Rhodes meditate together in careful arrangement. Finally, the intimate title track “No Time Like the Future” stomps off into the sunrise, carried along by a rolling, yearning dreaminess. Inspired, guided, dedicated to, No Time Like The Future is deeply connected to role of black music and black musicians, evident in every single one of these unbelievably tracks. Available on vinyl, give it up to Romaal Kultan for this piece of gold on Personal Discs.
“Each one of these tracks represent a special, all-too-rare moment of ecstasy in the studio. I hope that this feeling lives on in the music”