Baby, We're Ascending

DJ/producer Teneil Throssell calls her debut album under the alias HAAi “a hyperactive journey that feels like a real reflection of who I am.” While that description rings true in some of her frantic breakbeats and other concussive blasts, Throssell also excels at downtempo softness and many subtle textures in between those poles. Formerly the guitarist/vocalist for Sydney, Australia, shoegaze trio Dark Bells, she relocated to London and made a name for herself as a DJ thanks to meticulous crate-digging and trippy flourishes she adds to her sets. Both qualities shine on this album, with lead single “Bodies of Water” memorably contrasting Throssell’s slow, dreamy vocals with crackling techno motifs. Baby, We’re Ascending also boasts high-profile collaborators, from ambient keyboardist/composer Jon Hopkins on the radiant title track to Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor on the string-swept “Biggest Mood Ever.” Meanwhile, spoken-word poet Kai-Isaiah Jamal and singer Obi Franky hold hypnotic sway over assorted slippery contours on “Human Sound.”