As the West Coast’s so-called “lazer bass” scene has blown up in the past year or so, Nosaj Thing (a.k.a. L.A. producer Jason Chung) has been one of those artists you often hear about without actually hearing any music. With the release of his debut album, Drift, it’s a safe bet that you’ll be hearing a whole lot of Nosaj Thing’s tunes from here on out. Settling somewhere between Flying Lotus’ otherworldly jazz and The Glitch Mob’s crunked-up floor-fillers, Drift is an impeccably produced record that sounds amazing in headphones but also has enough bump to hit the dancefloor every now and then. With its sliced-up vocals and buzzing synths, the haunting “Coat of Arms” is a clear standout, but “Light #1” and “Light #2” have enough funk to get your head nodding, and album closer “Lords” doubles as a cathartic religious experience.
