Named after the term for the result of patterns superimposed on one another, London-based house/techno producer
Moiré made an impressive 12" debut in early 2013. It wasn't particularly unique, but its raw yet finessed synthesis of inspirations came off like the work of a veteran producer with tight quality control. Other appealing aspects were that it was released on Werkdiscs, the label operated by admired maverick producer
Actress, and that
Actress himself contributed a hypnotizing remix. Once
Moiré issued additional short-form releases for Werkdiscs and Rush Hour, and ramped up to the release of
Shelter, it became known that he was, indeed, a new artist, and that he took an extended amount of time to develop his sound prior to going public with it. Like the preceding 12" releases, his debut album sounds like it went through a meticulous process -- all the way through the sequencing stage -- to reach completion. It begins with the rather torpid "Attitude," which sets the album's dark mood, resembling a pitched-down
Theo Parrish production with overlaid accents from
Lawrence. The tempo quickly perks up with the stealth probing glide of "Dali House," but the set is clearly directed toward a thorough, dimly lit home or vehicular listening experience. The album's middle third is exceptional, where
Moiré's output once again draws from
Parrish,
Lawrence, and also
Moodymann with raw, almost jacking beats, sustained high-pitch strings (either sampled or synthetic), and entrancing, downcast melodies. The rapid "No Gravity" eclipses all of
Moiré's earlier highlights with the fluid combination of a reverberant prowling bassline, dampened handclaps, and swirling effects -- at once, his hardest and most graceful track. Closing track "Mr. Figure," titled like a misheard "Mr. Fingers," is industrial ambient techno, disconnected from the dancefloor but just as moving as anything ahead of it.