New Carpainter: Changeling Life

Changeling Life highlights producer Carpainter’s versatility better than any of his other recent releases. The middle two tracks zero in on his more aggressive side — “Dump Truck” rumbles along, only interrupted by distorted voices, while “Linkage” moves swifter but still leans towards the harder hitting. Yet its the songs bookending this EP that demand your attention, thanks to how they give themselves over to euphoria. “Breakdance” opens surrounded by warm swathes of synthesizer, building up to the point where Carpainter lets the titular phrase loop over and over again. Even better is the opening title track, which Complex correctly connects to older rave music. It’s a big, joyful release of a song, not a minute too late. Listen above.