U

Grammy-nominated producer Baauer’s third full-length album, U, calls back to his earliest musical obsessions – the block rockin’ hits that ruled the airwaves in the ’00s, and the mixes he discovered on Friday night radio. Executive-produced by Hudson Mohawke, U plays like a long-lost Radio 1 Essential Mix, its 16 continuous tracks paying homage to the sample-digging masters of ’00s dance domination. From the sparkling beat collage of ‘Supersonic’ to the big-booty drops on ‘Calling Out For U’ and delirious disco-house on ‘Better’, the album’s singles emulate the crossover thinking of Y2K’s biggest dance acts. Deeper in the folds, the self-taught studio nerd’s quirks are left unironed, underlining his long track record in the club trenches. Crowned with vocal performances from Aluna, Brazy, Betsy and labelmate KUKA, U is polished to a shine by piano/keys from Eli Teplin (Justin Bieber, Charli XCX) and additional production from pro studio duo Parisi. Thirteen years on from his overnight breakthrough with the double-platinum ‘Harlem Shake’, Baauer presents his most personal and emotional album yet – a celebration of precious memories, new connections, and an unswerving delight in the search for the perfect sample.