CD Review: Daphni -- 'Jiaolong'

'Jiaolong'
DAPHNI
3.5 stars
Daphni is the newest project of Dan Snaith, the inventive producer most recently known as Caribou. Echoing the left-field dance roots he displayed on the standout "Odessa" from 2010's excellent "Swim" LP, his Daphni debut finds Snaith bolted to the floor, pumping out lean, almost alien-sounding tracks that rely on hypnotic repetition to perform. And perform they do, brilliantly, especially opener "Yes, I Know," whose deep, coiling, machine-soul beats immediately broadcast that Snaith is shelving his sensitive side, at least for now.