Under his primary alias of Actress and an assortment of fleeting guises, Darren Cunninghamis behind some of the least predictable, least classifiable electronic music of his time. Since his modest 2004 debut with theNo TricksEP, the British producer has juggled diverse inspirations including early-’80s funk and electro, art rock, raw and classicist house, and noise, while putting a fresh spin on the forms to decayed, disorienting effect. His productions, once self-termed “R&B concrte,” have consequently dumbfounded some DJs, while they’ve been devoured by more adventurous jocks within the realms of house, techno, dubstep, and what has become known as deconstructed club music.

One of the most acclaimed sonic experimentalists,Cunninghamhas often landed on The Wire’s annual Top 50, starting withSplazsh(2010) and continuing throughAZD(2017). He has kept listeners guessing withLAGEOS(2018), featuringthe London Contemporary Orchestra;Karma & Desire(2020), incorporating vocals from the likes ofZselaandSampha; and the closely releasedLXXXVIII(2023) andStatik(2024), containing some of his trippiest and most direct material. In 2024, he releasedDarren J. Cunningham, a continuous mix of otherwise unissued originals. Bearing the title of the artist’s real name, Darren J. Cunningham, translated into Ukrainian.

Simply described by the artist as a collage, or a Braque, and as an Actress statement regardless of what format it fits into, the 54-minute piece is just as worthy of attention as any of his proper albums. Freed from standard track lengths, ideas are allowed to loop indefinitely, develop at their own pace, and even return later in the mix, making this an experience that blurs perceptions of time. Light but persistent kick drums, rippling piano notes, and obscured voices are present during the opening section, as other atmospheric layers gradually waft in, and it develops into an intense, psychedelic swirl. via AllMusic

Label: Smalltown Supersound
Format: Vinyl, LP
Released: 2024
Genre: Electronic
Style: Ambient, Experimental, Minimal, Techno

File under: House / Electro / Techno