Based out of Oakland, CA, BIGCAT is an experimental project that blends drone, glitch beats derived from sampled percussive objects, field recordings, and found sounds. Their latest release Atlas is a very exciting album that consists of Javanese Gamelan and Indonesian folk samples, synthesizer drones, recordings of natural sounds (e.g., chirping insects, flowing water, and the like), samples from old sci fi films, and homemade percussion that is digitally edited. Holistically, the album has a very warm and almost tropical feel that just pulls you in and takes you to another place. When listening to Atlas, I’m transported deep into a rainforest on a hot and humid evening. If you close your eyes, you can feel the evoked surroundings with insects and other wildlife in the distance. If Brian Eno and Jah Wobble did a follow up to Spinner, Atlas is how I imagine it sounding. A standout track is “Voodoo Sisters,” which cooks up an extremely busy blend of reggae dub, sampled voices, and drum and bass rhythms. It has a steady drive while still sounding ambient. Similarly, “Old Machinery” layers various discordant found sound rhythmic patterns alongside evocative ambient synths to great effect. “Karaya II” really showcases BIGCAT’s mastery of the studio, with its sparse vocal samples, chopped up percussion, ambient synth swells, and deep subsonic bass. The track is both mellow and tense. My only critique of the album is that I wish the tracks were longer. With most of the songs clocking in between three and four minutes, I’m left wanting more, as it seems like many of the compositions end as I anticipate them picking up and taking things to the next level. Perhaps that is BIGCAT’s strategy, as I am certainly waiting to see what will come next with great anticipation. On a final side note, Atlas is also a fantastic album to listen to on headphones, especially if you have a headphone amplifier. Listening to the album on a Schiit Fulla E further showcased BIGCAT’s masterful use of textures. I highly recommend this album. You will not be disappointed.