Joy Orbison's singles discography reads like a highlights reel of post-dubstep U.K. club music, from the slow-building euphoria of his 2009 breakout hit "Hyph Mngo" to peak-time bangers like the Source Direct-sampling "Ellipsis" and the Overmono collaboration "Bromley" (not to mention the infamous "Sicko Cell," an addictive electro cut that was issued anonymously). Much like his scene peers Blawan and Pearson Sound, Joy O has continually pushed forward, seemingly rebuilding his sound with every release. 2019's Slipping EP was a departure toward more introspective material, moving away from the club-ready tempos and embracing glitchy sound design as well as R&B and hip-hop elements, with appearances from guest vocalists such as Mansur Brown and Infinite. The release was also laced with snippets of conversations from Joy's family members, adding a personal touch. Still Slipping, Vol. 1 is the producer's first full-length after a dozen years in the game, and it's billed as a mixtape rather than an album, most likely because its continuation of the format of Slipping gives it the feel of a family scrapbook. (A voice at the end of the second track addresses this conundrum: "The second you just change the language to mixtape, nobody cares.") The beats are more detailed and less heavy than on Joy's singles, and the atmospheric elements and broken textures recall the off-kilter haziness of Actress. Several styles are touched upon -- "Swag w/ Kav" has a muted garage beat and a nostalgic rap from James Massiah at the beginning, "Better" is cruising, chilled-out house with rich yet delicate vocals by Léa San, and "Bernard?" isn't far off from µ-ziq's latter-day dabblings with trap-style beats. The tracks near the middle of the record that lean in the direction of trap and drill, continuing with the crackling IDM of "Glorious Amateurs," are some of the album's headiest, more introverted moments, compared to the more vocal-heavy ones near the beginning and end. The skipping, heart-racing "Layer 6" is close to James Blake at his most futuristic, and "Born Slipping" (with TYSON) is a classy bit of clicky, wintry techno. Throughout, various family members pop up, offering candid thoughts on pandemic activities, small-town scenes, and even Joy O's music. Still Slipping, Vol. 1 isn't the type of release that an artist would be likely to make at the beginning of their career. It's a labor of love requiring extensive reflection about how music and family have impacted one's life. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi

1		W/ Dad & Frankie
2		Sparko
3		Swag W/ Kav
4		Better
5		Bernard?
6		Runnersz
7		'Rraine
8		Glorious Amateurs
9		S Gets Jaded
10		Froth Sipping
11		Layer 6
12		In Drink
13		Playground
14		Born Slipping

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