Fletcher Pratt - Dub Sessions, Vol. 5 (2021)

Though Dub Sessions, Vol. 5 continues a long series for Oakland-based Canadian experimental composer Fletcher Pratt, its roots are more recent and immediate. Most tracks were used for his 2019 live performances, then with a live band sourced from fellow Mills College grads (sadly Mills announced the end of its degree program earlier this year). Pratt's ensemble shared the stage with Sun Araw in Oakland and joined the popular Dub Club series at the Echoplex in LA, with a slate of new shows planned before the pandemic.

Pratt's solo recordings continue to explore alternate universes and varied strains, crystalizing into an almost fractal dub style that feels unique to this session. Though some tracks have a minimalist air, they build and swell from layers of pointillist loops -- like the anxious and formal "Suspiria Dub." "Underwater Dub" opens the album on a playful note, posing a watery 8-bit adventure against Pratt's refined experimentation. But the album hinges more on suspense, shifting from ear-catching juxtapositions to deep introspection.