8/10

Ever since he departed from his seminal outfit Late Of The Pier to deliver his captivating debut LP 'Inji' in 2015, artist and producer Sam Dust aka LA Priest has stood as one of the more innovative names doing the round right now. After making a strong impact with his experimental psych-pop aesthetic, he returned in 2020 to unveil his imaginative sophomore outing 'GENE', which saw him broaden his musical horizons even further. Now looking to move along once again, he is back with his third studio album 'Fase Luna', a record that builds upon those glittering foundations.

Much like everything we have come to love about LA Priest since his first incarnation, 'Fase Luna' makes for a wonderfully fresh and fascinating listen. Bringing back another heady dose of shimmering textures and sweeping tones from start to finish, his newest full-length oozes a beautifully sweet and emotive intention, perfectly elevating his distinctive sound to date. Very much still in the same vein we saw him indulge on 'GENE', his new collection is another strong and positive step forward for his musical evolution to date.

While he has always looked to keep his sound sparse yet immersive as often as possible, 'Fase Luna' finds that comfortable middle ground that is both alluring but still minimal in its instrumentation. A confident return from an artist that is always finding new and interesting ideas in which to pursue.