While Ital seems more at ease as a singles project his first LP offers some choice gummy,
hypnotic house moments. First track "Doesn't Matter (If You Love Him)" takes inspiration
from the footwork movement with madcap slicing and dicing of very recognizable Lady Gaga and
Whitney Houston samples. What's impressive is how completely foreign these samples sound in
such a frenetic, alien context. Second track and my personal favorite, "Floridian Void," is
more representative of the album as a whole, with it being 1 of the 3 tracks (out of only 5)
that stretches over 10 minutes. Varying elements float in and out of the mix, making for
very organic and spontaneous builds and releases. If mid-fi quasi ambient house sounds like
an interesting concept to you I recommend giving Hive Mind a listen. It won't be one of the
year's best releases, but it provides a unique and intriguing space to visit for 40+ minutes
of your time.
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