"Ways" by Xyla

Psychedelic, chilled out bedroom techno from San Francisco delivers the feels.

Xyla
Ways (2020)
Leaving Records

If I started telling you about the best new IDM out of San Francisco in 2020, you’d be forgiven for picturing a straight, white, 30-year-old man recently retired from Google. But Xyla is a classically-trained, queer bpoc, and her latest contribution to the genre is a welcome change. From ambient techno (“Feel”) reminiscent of Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works 85-92 to meditative, beatless interludes (“Now”) to jungle-inspired jams (“Ways”), Ways reflects an artist melding a variety of classic styles to create one entirely their own. “Cold” (featuring Oso Feo) is one of the album’s highlights, blissful footwork built around a lovingly washed out vocal sample from Ashanti's 2002 hit "Foolish.”

For the analog-minded, you can pick up a cassette of the album on Bandcamp.