Harrison Blakoldman is a producer from Paris and former member of the PAPAJAZZ crew. His latest release on the Soulection label is a short five-song EP, which is bound to catch some ears.

HBO covers a lot of ground with this EP, so much that it’s hard to pigeon hole him with genre labels. The best comparison I can think of would be DJ Nobody with the way he’s able to blend so many different styles at the same time. There’s no vocals on the EP, but we get down tempo instrumental hip hop, beautifully gentle psychedelic pop, European-style electronic music, house, and some glitch-filled hip hop. Each individual track is a complex and fully realized arrangement, but what really strikes me is how well the EP comes together as a whole, and how much of a journey you’re taken on in such a compact amount of time. Some EPs can be engaging, but when you get to the end, it takes you by surprise that it’s already over. With Opera, I get so lost in the listening experience, when I get to the end, I’m more surprised that more time hasn’t lapsed since I pressed play. It’s an absolutely gorgeous collection that’s complex and rewarding with something new to discover each time you listen to it. One time I might notice how great the drums sound, another time I might notice how cleverly he develops a melody on the keyboard, another time I might notice a subtle sample in the background that perfectly flavors the moment. It’s all a testament to his skills as arranger, songwriter, and producer.

I had no knowledge of Harrison Blakoldman before listening to the EP, but to say that I’m intrigued by what he’s done here is an understatement. Instrumental hip hop usually takes a while to unfold and reveal itself to it’s listeners, but HBO has created a densely packed five song EP with Opera that incorporates a wide variety of styles, and he managed to make it a comprehensive listening experience that flows beautifully from start to finish.