San Francisco's Devonwho originally released Perfect Strangers in two volumes over the course of 2012. But it was Dropping Gems who saw the volumes as one with plans of re-releasing the collection as a long-playing cassette.
Perfect Strangers, as a title, seems almost derivative of the track by track relationship at work. Devonwho is both the sound selector instigating parties and the meditative beat-maker crafting sonics for fellow recluses. The compositions on Perfect Strangers are comfortable within the booming system at the Mighty for Low End Theory SF (particulary “cabbages” feat. Swarvy) or kept at a considerate volume in an art gallery. Taking a few cues from Flying Lotus' early playbook chapters, “Wilts” stumbles around on flourishes and clumsy synths with only a woodblock's ritualistic knock to keep the order. It's fit for an Adult Swim commercial interlude, but a far cry from getting pigeonholed as carbon copy of LA beat miners. “Wilts” is a demonstration by the many faces of Devonwho. Maybe that's how he arrived at the moniker?
Preorder Devonwho's Perfect Strangers CS at Dropping Gems.
