Pagan

A modern, minimalist take on traditional dancehall rhythms, Pagan taps into reggae’s softer side. The Jamaican club sound often peppers the pop charts—Diplo, Drake, and Rihanna have all released interpretations—but Palmistry is after new territory. The London producer-vocalist keeps things simple by relying almost solely on staccato synths, reserved bass drums, and splashes of auto-tune, carefully incorporating Caribbean rhythms and vocal tricks (he deftly mimics dancehall’s signature mumble). The songs are strung together like variations on a theme. “Lifted” is flirty, “Sweetness” is joyful, and “Adeus” is brooding electro-R&B.