In the spaces of trip-hop, electro-soul, and nu-disco, Eliot Lipp and Blockhead are particularly known quantities, with both having been progenitors within their lanes of choice. With just under and over 20 years of professional musical experience under both belts, respectively, they each have their own expansive and evolutionary catalogs; Blockhead’s prolific sample-collaging and Lipp’s unmistakable penchant for warm, analog synthesis have become the mainstay tropes that make their music so instantly identifiable across two decades of minted works. In 2019, the two joined forces under the Lipphead moniker, releasing a self-titled EP that exposed listeners to the vibrant and salacious combination when their skillsets are mingled in symbiotic fashion. Reprising their respective rolls for Lipphead, they’ve gone to ground and back again to create In The Nude, their latest and most impressive collaborative record to date.

Landing with a total of 13 tracks, In The Nude is a full service dive into a plethora of rhythms and sonic perspectives, all threaded together by a constant and unmitigated command of groove. Tracks like “D.I.A.”, “The Squirrel From Ipanema”, and “Wait Til You See My Outro” all wield the classic, downbeat-centric flow that has been so indicative of Blockhead works across his entire career, while “Shallow Halal”, “Proud Dad”, and "Nocturnal Omissions” exude the dance-centric, often frenetic energy of Eliot Lipp’s most impactful compositions. Even with sonic signifiers bending towards one or the other producer, there’s no majority dynamic to In The Nude; every track features a mingled web of hallmarks and classic tones that have made the two artists in question such recognizable acts, suffusing a parity of elements throughout the 33-minute runtime of the album. With jazz and soul thematic elements at play across every arrangement, there’s no moment where the vibe falls victim to lethargy, making every second of the LP’s journey a consistent and sultry bite of the Lipphead apple.

There’s no doubt that we’re often suckers for a solid collaboration, but there’s a notable difference when combined palate is so complimentary before the first notes are even struck. Eliot Lipp and Blockhead have carved out their own specific territories seemingly parallel to one another, making the act of bridge-building a natural step for this key-turn pairing. For discerning fans of broken-beat music with movement in mind, as well as appreciators of either respective discography, Lipphead’s In The Nude should undoubtedly be next on your must-have list.

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