Imperial’s Solo Debut Evokes Endless Summer Sensations

“A toast to Imperial for shaping the perfect mood for our get together this afternoon. Here, here! Cheers, mate!”

Any country club, family reunion or bonfire would be lucky to raise a glass containing a fruity beverage to the British producer and deejay’s solo debut release, ‘Layers’.

Best known for his boom-baptastic musical partnership with emcee K.I.N.E.T.I.K., Imperial brought more than background beets beats to this potluck picnic. This Illect Recordings instrumental album is a main course.

Creating the anxious feelings of preparing for a party on opener "Elevation" to watching waves crash with that special someone as your heart thumps on “ReTape” to arriving fashionably late and turning heads with “Connected”, Imperial knows cool.



Even if you could miraculously invite Miles Davis, James Bond, LL Cool J, Scarlett Johansson, the Sinatra family and Ice Bear into a recording session, ‘Layers’ has more chill.

One can safely assume Imperial put on sunglasses in slow motion when finishing “Behind The Curtain”: a classical, dreamy bump that fragrantly lingers like a fond memory. A chamber orchestra wearing board shorts should cover this track.

The swinging basslines, cheerful chant, casual keys and carefree flute and guitar solos of “Hot Sauce” are best enjoyed with the windows all the way open- especially the song’s turntable-percussion battle breakdown.

Even landlocked listeners will feel transported to a beachside resort with these vibes. I've never been to the ocean, but listening to the marimba melodies of “Delta Waves” gives me a better representation for the sound of the coast than putting my ear to any shell.

So if you feel the urge to max and/or relax and need a warm and airy soundscape, put on this quintessentially summer beat tape.

Standout tracks: Hot Sauce, Transit, Yellow Yachts

Stream or download Imperial’s ‘Layers’ on Illect Recordings.