Vivid Green

Nobody, the enigmatic Los Angeles producer Elvin Estela, has long cultivated a reputation for crafting electronic music that defies easy categorization. With his 2013 album, *Vivid Green*, Estela further refines his signature approach, inviting listeners into a realm of subtle immersion and sun-drenched, recliner-beat ambiance. This release, lauded by *Pitchfork* for its "pleasures of subtlety and long-soak immersion," offers a captivating suite of tracks that feel both intimately familiar and beautifully unplaceable....

Nobody, the enigmatic Los Angeles producer Elvin Estela, has long cultivated a reputation for crafting electronic music that defies easy categorization. With his 2013 album, *Vivid Green*, Estela further refines his signature approach, inviting listeners into a realm of subtle immersion and sun-drenched, recliner-beat ambiance. This release, lauded by *Pitchfork* for its "pleasures of subtlety and long-soak immersion," offers a captivating suite of tracks that feel both intimately familiar and beautifully unplaceable. *Vivid Green* unfolds with a warm-weather glow, balancing airy melodies with weighty drum breaks that create a "mild narcotic" effect, gently amplifying the mellow qualities of any surrounding. Tracks like the liquid flutter of "Third Charm" and the subterranean echo of "Flat Black" showcase Nobody’s mastery of intricate instrumental textures, drawing the listener into a deep focus where background music becomes foreground art. The album’s title track, "Vivid Green," stands out as a slowly cresting, invigorating triumph, encapsulating the record's consistent bucolic charm. A hallmark of Nobody's career has been his thoughtful collaborations, and *Vivid Green* is no exception. The album features an impressive roster of vocalists and producers who lend their unique voices to Estela's intricate soundscapes. Mars Volta frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala contributes to the woozily soulful "Our Last Dance," a downtempo psychedelic dirge that hints at profound emotion. Teri Gender Bender of Bosnian Rainbows and Anna Wise of Sonnymoon weave enigmatic, melody-distorting qualities into the half-awake goth-soul of "Sleeping Alone" and the disassociated grooves of "Spliff!" respectively. The album culminates with "Beaches," a standout track co-produced by Baths and featuring Project Blowed alum Nocando, which effortlessly shifts between a reefer-smoke zone-out and heartfelt devotion, encapsulating an oceanside summer vibe. *Vivid Green* is a testament to Nobody's enduring presence as a sonic innovator, a master of long-soak ambiance whose work is steeped in both a deep appreciation for the past and a forward-thinking vision. It’s an album that rewards patient listening, revealing new layers with each return, confirming Nobody's status alongside experimental peers like Four Tet and Caribou in modern electronic music.