Leaves of Life

Ronan lands with renewed focus and a new EP on nascent X-Kalay sub-label, Another Place. Musing on personal crossroads, Leaves of Life is a highly evocative contemplation on the tides of life. Its the culmination of a personal arc having sat with the material for six years, further refining the lush, introspective sound thats characterised his output to date.

The outcome feels similarly unhurried; a pristine, genre-spanning exploration rendered with meticulous attention to detail. Soul-bearing stuff interspersed with words of reassurance through quietly spoken vocals.

The opener strives for utopia. Carried away on a warm current, Song of Surrender initiates with a gorgeous unfurling of life-affirming trance that begs repeat immersion. Comparatively direct, Cure for Toxicity comes on a breaks-driven flex before a fleeting switch-up into 2-step territory.

Supple groove and jazz modalities fuel airily introspective D&B as we shift focus to title track Leaves of Life. Then, finally, Ronan closes things out with a ritual purification of sorts. Deploying more breaks but bordering on new age, Sacral Dub exudes a soothing, massaging quality with dubby tendencies in full effect.