Chris Coco’s Daydream Utopia is a kind of concept LP. The 9 tracks attempt to map, induce, a liminal space between waking and R.E.M.-related fantasy. A trio of guests assist Chris in this quest. Hell Yeah’s Gallo lends a hand with the lysergic For The People, which rushes about busy, but gentle, arpeggios and bubbling acidic effervescence. Yawa Ze helps out on 3bluehirotape, which is woozy, wonky gear, all Spiritual High-like sighs and the percolating patterns of a seriously stoned gamelan. Keyboardist / composer Yoshiharu Takeda – whose own album Aspiration was recently rescued by bespoke ambient imprint, Silent River Runs Deep – then joins the team for Leap Year, which pairs tabla with a soaring traditional / folk vocal. This track also features blissed-out bluesy picking from Nick Cornu, who supplies great guitar work throughout the album. On Serenity Test, for example, he’s a ringer for Peter Green / Fleetwood Mac / Albatros. On RGB he provides washes of feedback, that counter, partner pretty For A Few Dollars More pocket watch chimes. Tokyo Ame is a deep house drift, like a lullaby built on Raze’s Break 4 Love. In the process, it eavesdrops on a cute Japanese couple, who rather than espouse purple prose, politely discuss the weather. Sampling their sweet nothings. Giggles and all. The techno-tinged Interstellar is a highlight. In its foreground tumbling tones. In the background a muted, morphing, Manuel Gottsching / E2 E4 / Sueno Latino-esque melody. Another standout is Synethesia, where drones and sustained notes, dance over delicate drums, summoning summery, bluer skies. Symphonic, and with a cool, crystalline clarity, generating good, good vibes.

Chris will host a Bandcamp listening party for Daydream Utopia, on its release day, April 5, at 1 PM UK time. You can sign up here. 

There’ll also be “live” album playbacks at the following: 

March 29 – Penelope, Ramsgate 

March 31 – Simon The Tanner, Bermondsey, London 

April 7 – Spiritland, Kings X, London