7/10

Throughout their tenure, electronic duo Mount Kimbie have always been seen as one of the more forward-thinking names working today. After a flurry of fresh and innovative releases over the years, the pair have also leant their distinctive direction to countless other artists over the last decade, maintaining their reputation for adventurous and ground-breaking aesthetics at every turn. But after a few years apart to focus on their own projects, they are back together once again to offer up their fourth studio album 'MK 3.5: Die Cuts | City Planning', a double full-length that keeps that fire burning bright.

Arriving five years after their last LP 'Love What Survives', this new collection looks to give their eagerly-awaiting fans far more to get their teeth stuck into. While the twenty-three track runtime certainly makes for intensive listening, it also stands as their most collaborative work to date as well. Recruiting the likes of Danny Brown, slowthai, James Blake and many more across the release, the first half feels like a nod to their production prowess for other artists, while its second chapter is a pure Mount Kimbie experience. Splitting the record in half definitely adds a layer of intrigue to their latest material, and allows audiences to hear the very succinct split in their direction these days.

Mount Kimbie have never been ones to throw something out for the sake of it, and the level of detail and focus throughout 'MK 3.5: Die Cuts | City Planning' is certainly palpable. And while the extreme length does sometimes struggle to keep itself afloat in places, there is still plenty of broad and exciting ideas on here to get swept away with.