Kratos Himself’s second album “Stay True” is a collection of 13 warm, jazzy organic electronica pieces. They’re mostly under the three minute mark and some are more like sketches than fully-fleshed out standalone works, but there’s a consistency throughout that makes it a smooth 46-minute listen.

Much of it has a leisurely, lounge-like flavour, with the Rhodes piano and vibes feeling cosy, relaxed and loosely improvised in parts. The rhythm programming is generally a little sharper but not so much that it plays against the rest of the mood. The mood of it, rather than the sound, reminds me strongly in parts of Cinematic Orchestra pieces, but in a smaller ensemble (Kratos Himself, Jethro Hopmans, is a one-man band besides the guest appearances on two tracks).

Highlights include the partner pieces “For Me” and “For You”, and the slight ethnic flavours of the title track “Stay True”. Copasetic’s guest vocal on “Float” lasts barely 90 seconds and is something of a teaser of how brilliant it could sound if Kratos Himself explored the possibilities of vocals more fully. “Your Body” is something inbetween romantic and sleazy, in a good way. Bev Lee Harding brings soft vocal layers to “Bits & Pieces”, as well as very faint, not-entirely-sure-if-it’s-there hints of the kitchen sink instrumentation that she employs in her solo work.

If this album hadn’t already got a solid home on the Youngbloods label, it could easily have found a home on the Leaf label or even the jazzier side of Warp. It’s out December 9th as a pay-what-you-want download as well as on vinyl, and this is absolutely a release worth clicking more than a ‘0’ button for.