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Album Details

• Artist: Sybarite
• Album: Nonument
• Label: 4AD
• Year of Release: 2002
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-03-26

After hearing both Placement Issues and musicforafilm I knew that I was onto something good and that something is called Sybarite. I thought the name was made up but dictionary happens to state that sybarite is somebody devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual desires. Appropriate, isn’t it? In fact this case Sybarite is the pseudonym for Xian Hawkins, a electronica producer from Brooklyn who inflicts his artistic views upon us via his wide hybrid of genres. In most cases Sybarite’s music is beautiful and very artistic at the same time. The folks at 4AD caught wind of his Temporary Residence releases and had to have him for their own. This is a good thing because Xian’s music needs a wider audience than Temporary Residence, while a fine label with some interesting releases, could provide. The reason for this is the pure originality of Hawkin’s music. Speakers pop like never before in ways they were never designed to in the first place. One could compare Sybarite to Aphex Twin but Hawkins provides a more palatable array of beats. Listen to the second track on Nonument entitled “The Fourth Day� for one of the best examples of this. Brooke Williams provides haunting vocals over a very lush but minimalistic set of beats. Nonument is an electronica classic in the making. People will refer to this album as an important time in music. And this is all due to Sybarite’s creative mind. This is what Boards of Canada should have released instead of Geogaddi.

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