After eight years of crafting traditionally pounding dance tracks, Dear explores new territory. While he's dropped the occasional vocal on previous works, Asa Breed finds Dear singing over almost every track, infusing his usually robotic croon with a sense of melody that recalls TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe. Dear also reveals a vulnerable side, airing thoughts on love, marriage, and failure.
Musically, Asa Breed fluctuates from his usual tech-house rhythms to moody, darkwave-like slow jams and even an all-acoustic number. "Deserter" and "Death to Feelers," two slices of pop goodness, succeed in blending Dear's many sounds.
While this disc contains some awkward experiments, it spotlights an artist bravely spreading his wings.
