UNDER THE ILLUSION at first seems like a far cry from his early 2010s forays into breakbeats, trap, and future beats, but the reality is that this EP is an incredible display of the cumulative talent that Sam Gellaitry has spent the better part of the last decade refining. Since he began making music as a youngster in the hills of Scotland, he has received critical acclaim from the likes of Soulection, BBC Radio 1, Boiler Room, Music is the Answer, and a host of other outlets and artists. Perhaps best described as a musical prodigy, the sheer breadth and range of Gellaitry’s output is truly staggering. UNDER THE ILLUSION is no exception and serves to remind listeners that nothing is off-limits if it sounds good.
Inspired by the likes of Sampha, James Blake, and Toro y Moi, Gellaitry has in recent years begun experimenting more with his own vocals alongside his iconic production. The result is a cohesive project which aims for each track to be more than “just a beat,” as he describes in a recent interview with Lucid Monday. Evolving his sound is the goal and in that respect, UNDER THE ILLUSION is a stand-out step forward.
The melodies and vocals on UNDER THE ILLUSION are reminiscent of old 1980s synth-pop hits from the likes of New Order, Gary Numan, and The Human League. The near-minimalist approach and clever use of empty space Gellaitry used when producing tracks like ‘LONG DISTANCE‘ and ‘Monochrome‘ in the past has been replaced with an array of feel-good, bouncy synths and guitar riffs played by the man himself.
‘UNDER THE ILLUSION’ and ‘ALONE’ perfectly capture this new direction of sound. Gellaitry’s voice is an instrument unto itself with the way the tracks have been mastered, blending seamlessly with the wall of sounds underneath. ‘LIKE THIS / LIKE THAT’ is a slower, more pensive track with deeper vocals and a chunky bass guitar riff that absolutely will get stuck in listeners’ heads. The characteristic Gellaitry groove makes a return in ‘THINK I KNOW’ with bass-heavy percussion and similarly deep vocals. Seemingly a callback to the sounds of his prior projects, this experimental, bass-heavy masterpiece is a welcome addition as the final track of the EP.
If an evolution of his sound is what Sam Gellaitry is trying to achieve with UNDER THE ILLUSION, it’s safe to say he’s nailed it. The future is indeed bright for this producer. Gellaitry has at times hinted at his interest in producing and composing for visual media, such as short films or video games. With that in mind, perhaps the next project will stray even further from the sounds that initially made him famous as a teenager. With such a dedicated fanbase, whatever direction he chooses to take next is sure to blow listeners away. Until then, stream UNDER THE ILLUSION below.
