I’m typically against making predictions about my favorite album of a given year when there’s still a good bit of time left, but I may just have to break my rule in this case.

I simply cannot put this one down. Organic electronic, a supple, vibrant mixture of hi-fi and lo-fi production, the very distillation of the concept of “cool.” The melodies rock my brain in a soothing cradle of deep, palpable peace and calm, radiating with the bittersweet crisp ambience that only incipient fall can provide. That fading hue of soft, golden audio sunshine with the crunch of leaves, the gentle glow of changing colors.

This music really feels like you can reach out and touch it. It’s dense, rich, mossy, and welcoming, like a hobbit house or a little gnome shack. Perfect for cinematic bus rides on the way home from work, painting in your living room in a haze of dappled relaxation, a nice walk through the brisk night air – wistful without feeling melancholy.

Another crazy thing about this album is that apparently KILN has been around for 30+ years and this is the first I’m hearing of them. The trio consists of Kevin Hayes, Kirk Marrison and Clark Rehberg III (Per Bandcamp, “all soundforms by” with no further clarification, lol).

Luminous, crystalline, delectable, the luxurious tones and textures on Lemon Borealis feel like my ears are eating cake. In a year of standout releases across all genres, this is by far the record I’ve revisited the most since it dropped, and I’m pretty excited for my next listen.