Freescha - Kids Fill The Floor

SUNK INTO A BEAN BAG CHAIR, DAYDREAMING OF PLAYTIME

There's such an air of ingrained nostalgia permeating every corner and crevice of Kids Fill The Floor. It's April of 2001, the rush of Big Beat has worn off, as has the twisted demeanor of Trip Hop. Electronica needs a rest. And if only for a fleeting moment, savoring the last remnants of 90's glow, before 9/11 would pivot the 2000's into something else entirely. Freescha, and others at the time like Four Tet, Fennesz, and múm, all clutched this gleam of fading sunlight, parsing hues of burnt orange with muffled, static warmth. The foundation of Folktronica was birthed here, tied closely with Glitch meant to soothe and not provoke. And while Kids Fill The Floor ties more directly to Downtempo - with a palpable Boards Of Canada influence - there's no denying Freescha's mindset so clearly parallels those who cradled an era soon to be out of reach.

There's a naïveté surrounding Kids Fill The Floor, one that's elucidated well enough with the title. Dance music for innocent children, with quirky instrumentation, scuffed robotic voices, and a lobit weight that eases all stress and density in the vicinity. It's playful, yet largely stripped of energetics, creating an atmosphere that seemingly exists within the void of impermanence. Creatively-rich, yet exhausted from the ramshackle recess that catapulted you into the cushioned, sleepy-time corner. The three-track run of 'Kid Brother,' 'Boyrgurl,' and 'Blooms & Blossoms' exemplifies this the best, with their playground desolation circling around deteriorated spoonfuls of narcosis. And that's where Boards Of Canada's idiosyncratic schtick comes into play, sprinkling a fuzzy haze atop things that were once active and well-used. However, it's not the duo's entire scope that lingers here - as the mood and tone track in opposition - but rather one peculiar track; 'Roygbiv.' Nostalgia seen through the eyes of a child, radiating and carefree. 'Blooms & Blossoms,' my personal favorite, accomplishes this the best, overwhelming the senses with antiquated radio frequencies and VHS static, coming across as a sort of little tikes-brand Tycho.

Though, it need be said, not all of Kids Fill The Floor is insouciant charm. Tracks like 'Henry Hudson' and 'Up The Coast' take a more sophisticated, byzantine approach to Freescha's sound. They're hardly aggressive, but rather weighty and resolute, certain with every step, like a teenager rebelling on vacation. As with most art, I'll prefer the one that can best transport me to better times, and Kids Fill The Floor's first half does that exceptionally well. It's an honest world for simple minds and pleasant creatures. What's not to like.