This extended play was released on May 5th this year. I typically don’t write full reviews for instrumental projects because I’m better at talking about lyrics rather than production. However, this project is only five tracks, so I figured I’d give it a try. I don’t think it’ll be hard for me to find something to say about five songs, especially since they’re all so good. I wasn’t really planning on covering this project at first, but I ended up enjoying it more than I expected to, so I decided I needed to tell y’all about it.

---

The opening song is called scattered applause. As soon as it starts, I’m hooked by the dusty, yet melodic and jazzy instrumental at the beginning of the track. It eventually switches up to another beat with the same qualities. I feel like Sleep Sinatra would sound amazing over this beat. I mean, I just think he sounds amazing over good beats in general, so that’s probably why he’s always the first artist to come up in my head. I first heard Achille’s production on a collaborative project with Iceberg Theory called Precepts of Chiron, which was good. I wouldn’t mind hearing another project from them in the future. Those aren’t the only guys that would sound good over Achille’s production, but they’re the first ones that come to mind for me. Anyway, I love how jazzy the instrumental here is, and the high pitched glittery noise in the loop makes the beat sound really pretty. It sounds like a wind chime kinda. It’s a really dope beat. The following track, balsam, is even better though. It’s very melodic and kind of intense-sounding. It’s much more energetic than the preceding track. The outro of this song is kinda weird, but in a really cool way. I think this track is more straightforward than the opening song, but this one just has a more enjoyable loop to me. I think it’s really dope. Track 3 is called here, now, and it’s my favorite song on the project.

---

It’s just a really gorgeous instrumental. It sounds like the most prominent instrument used here was the harp, but I could be wrong about that. I probably am actually. The more I listen to it the less it sounds like a harp. Fuck it. It don’t matter. Anyway, I’m really thankful that there are drums on this track. The loop kinda sounds like something that a lot of producers these days would try to let speak for itself without any drums, but that would be kinda boring to me. The drums really bring life to this instrumental. Don’t get me wrong; the beat would still be fire without percussion. I just think the drums are what really push it to the next level. They’re not even super loud or intricate drums. They do exactly what they need to though. I love it. The song’s dope as hell. The penultimate track is called remembrance. This one’s got kind of a floaty, cloudy instrumental. It sounds like gliding over a bunch of clouds on a bright day. The song’s under a minute long, so there’s not really much time for development. It’s short and sweet. It hits hard and quick. I fuck with it. I think it’s really dope. The closing track is called matilda, and it’s probably my second favorite song on the project. It’s another really jazzy, smooth, pretty instrumental. The guitar is the most prominent instrument in this beat, and it sounds phenomenal. Upon further listening I do find this track to be slightly repetitive, but that’s just a nitpick. I think it’s really great.

---

^{This is the best instrumental project I’ve heard so far in 2023. There’s not a track here that isn’t dope. The beats are nice and jazzy, and they somehow sound dusty and polished at the same time. I’ve always enjoyed Achille’s work to some extent, but I think this is definitely the best work I’ve ever heard from them. I don’t have any consistent gripes with this EP. It left me wanting more, so I’m looking forward to hearing more work from Achille soon. This shit is great. Give it a listen and let me know what you think in the comments below.}

Favorite Song: here, now
Least Favorite Song: scattered applause

82