Album Review: Shigeto - No Better Time Than Now

It seems that 2013 is more than just a year full of decent hip hop releases. With OPN's R Plus Seven on the way and Shigeto's recent No Better Time Than Now, it is safe to call this year well rounded. This is Shigeto's third album and by far the most interesting. 2012's Lineage was a solid electronic ambient release but was lacking in originality. This new release succeeds at solving this issue while still remaining very mellow and relaxing.
The first notable characteristic of No Better Time Than Now is the jazz influence. An electronic house style keyboard opens up the intro with a long smooth jazz sounding chord. The rest of this progression is followed by some more authentic electronic sounds as well as some glitch hop. This intro seems to sum up the album as a whole. It is truly a great way to kick off the album. My mental image of this track is somewhat like a person diving into a pool relaxation and peeking curiosity. The second track, "Detroit Part 1", maintains the jazz feel and brings in a tight hip hop beat. The electronic influence returns in full force on the song, "Perfect Crime", with a very rigid synth lead. It is the type of synthesizer in which the wavelengths are very easily heard as the notes a held.
No Better Time Than Now is a perfect fix for any glitch hop/beat music fans. For me, this record is my solution to hearing too much Flying Lotus. Though his music is nearly perfect, I cannot listen to it forever. This is what makes Shigeto so great. 7.8/10