7/10

Over the years, Croydon-based producer Andy Smith aka Lxury has been one of the most original and captivating beatmakers this country has even seen. Ranging from a love of ethereal soundscapes to full-on clubbing anthems, the producer's eclectic direction has been the driving force behind his creativity for more than a decade. And now he returns with a seventeen-track mixtape that looks to cement his diverse ways with a far stretching series of instrumental ideas.

'Extra Free Vol. 1' doesn't really need to give the impression that it is a fully-fledged studio album as the purpose of this release is to simply display the multitude of avenues and expressions the artist is capable of. Acting like a curriculum vitae of his abilities, the mixtape (much like his career) aims to show the widest range possible. With influences that span everything from lo-fi electronica, atmospheric drone and hip-hop, Lxury has taken the most inspiring aspects of his sound and unloaded them into one bold and enticing release.

It may come across as half-baked and incomplete in places, mainly because that is sort of the point of this collection. 'Extra Free Vol. 1' is an expression of where his mind is at the moment, delivering interesting beats and ideas that haven't all been full formed just yet. But there is still plenty to get excited about on here.