Crossroads EP

NoahShea’s latest release on TSoNYC lends itself to being savored in solitude, whether taken in measured, epicurean sips as a backdrop for an especially luxuriant Sunday afternoon or imbibed to induce reverie in the anonymity of a late Saturday night dance floor. Drawing broadly from global influences, Crossroads, co-produced with the label’s frontman Danilo Braca, invites listeners to explore the New York metropolis through a dreamy, Balearic mist in a prime demonstration of the signature sound that has made TSoNYC its home over the years.

The title track brings together a plodding, syncopated acid beat reminiscent of early raindrops of a gathering storm, with intermittent chirps of subtle birdsong cueing us in to more surprises on the way. Rich with orchestral strings, multi-layered percussion, and a dynamic trumpet that carries us through the end of the storm and a final downpour of hi-hats, we can now appreciate how the heavy rains have cleared the grime to make way for sparkling asphalt.

Similarly plodding, but more regular and less urgent, “Excursions” introduces a cautious synth as our new protagonist, with a friendly 303 bassline and light hand drums as travel companions, while some acid burbles serve as curious scenery along the way. The track finds a more confident stride as percussion builds and we return to the main road.

The third track, “Rubicon”, features a driving arpeggiator, signifying a definitive shift into decisiveness that shows no sign of letting up or reversing course. A jazzy keyboard solo mid-track invites us into the bittersweetness of walking the path of no return.

Simply titled “Y”, we meet with the consequence and acceptance of the choices made in our journey through “Rubicon”. Warm yet imposing, we can feel the weight as well as the freedom of knowing what lies ahead. Layered rhythms and a slowly building acid undercurrent give way mid-track to a crisp synth solo that crescendos into a steady gallop, sending us riding off into the horizon.