Dave Van Patten

Daedelus “Tailor-Made feat. Milosh”
(from Bespoke out now on Ninja Tune)

Bespoke marks Daedelus’ ten year anniversary as a recording artist, and he’s celebrating in style. This is a conceptual album literally about custom-made, well-tailored clothing, reflecting his romantic imagination and obsession with threads from the Victorian era with songs called “Sew. Darn. Mend.,” “Suit Yourself,” “French Cuffs,” and “In Tatters.” It’s a beautiful record; Daedelus’ talent has always been most evident in his impeccable timing and his instinctual ability to weave together cinematic samples, found sounds, his own instruments, and a range of human vocals into one tight piece that can be constantly folded and unfolded. Every track has a different guest singer—the Daedelus hall of fame line-up?—like Bird and the Bee singer Inara George, whose airy vocals are backed by operatic, processed samples on the sinister-sounding stand-out “Penny Loafers.” There’s also an appearance by master rapper Busdriver, here singing with surprising strength and elasticity on the hyperactive “What Can You Do?” This is an incredibly sophisticated and accessible record—commercial, but in a Brian Wilson kinda way. It takes colossal experience and skill to make something that sounds this effortless and natural. Bespoke is a high-point of Daedelus’ discography—fans will find the sounds they know and love, but this is the record that’ll open the minds of new listeners worldwide.

—Lainna Fader