Mas Amable

DJ Python’s “deep reggaetón”—what he calls his homegrown brand of IDM-influenced dembow—is shot through with emotion. The title of the New York producer’s 2017 album Dulce Compañia translates as “Sweet Company”; Mas Amable means simply “Friendlier,” but the feelings here are deeper and more complex than that title might suggest. DJ Python’s synth pads have never sounded more ethereal; his syncopated grooves have never felt quite so weightless. The record gets off to a gentle start with “Te Conocí,” as flutelike synths and environmental sounds establish a hushed, melancholy air; with “Pia” and “oooophi,” both drums and drones deepen the mood. All eight tracks flow seamlessly together in one unbroken whole, lending to the album’s immersive pull. Its hypnotic powers are on full display in “ADMSDP,” a pensive soundtrack accompanied by ASMR-grade whispers fit for any long, dark night of the soul. Fortunately, things are always bleakest before the dawn, and after that anxious climax, Python graces us with a sun-kissed finish as reassuring as anyone could hope for.