Back in 2014, an upstart, soul-inspired Thomas Schillebeeckx released the debut Poldoore album, The Day Off, achieving far-reaching acclaim in just a matter of days. The Day Off introduced fans of jazz, hip-hop, and lo-fi music to a fresh blend of trusted ingredients and novel accents, placing Poldoore squarely in the center of an emerging wave of smooth electronica. In the years since then, the Poldoore back catalog gained equal acclaim, with new fans discovering a trove of original material that showcased a man steeped in daily musicality for the better part of the last decade. Roughly six years after his bust-out as a household name, his talents have been dialed in further with each successive release, and he’s recently paired with the venerable Stereofox publication to unveil his latest single, “Shade”.

Channeling the timeless tonality of Rhodes keys through a viscous mixture of swelling synths and whimsical phrasing, “Shade” is a sonic respite from the heat of the day; there are no sharp edges or sudden spurts of energy. It’s a carefully wrapped package of aquiline melodies and consistent rhythmic satisfaction. Given Schillebeeckx’s penchant for curating a vibe, it comes as no surprise that “Shade” attenuates the attitude in the air to a serene equilibrium, and that equalization of elements is what gives the track such a notable buoyancy. With his last full length album having been released in 2019, this single makes us giddy at the possibility of a larger comprehensive Poldoore release in the near future, and you’d best believe that it will assuredly live up to the consistent caliber of his output.

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