Somni is a producer originally from the UK, but now based in Los Angeles. He dropped his debut album, Bloom, in 2018, which helped to distinguish himself in an already crowded beat scene out there. Now he’s coming back with his sophomore album, Home, which continues to build on that foundation.

Somni cites influences such as Flying Lotus and Portishead, and while I can hear that coming through at time, it’s not what I thought of the first time I listened to Home. The style on this album is a really chill lo-fi sound with a lot of glitches and experimental manipulation of folk music, with just a touch of indie rock coming in through the occasional vocal performance. With that in mind, what came to mind for me was a mixture of Odd Nosdam, Savath & Savalas, and Baths. It’s a really gentle and carefully crafted album, where all of these moments of minor discord, whether it be beats or melody, come together to create something beautiful and calming. “Sometimes,” which features vocals from Harris Cole, is the closest thing on the album to a traditional single, but the majority of the album really needs to be experienced in one sitting, where you can breath in all of these small moving parts that Somni has found or made and pieced them together in these unlikely fashions to create this gorgeous soundscape. While there isn’t much in the way of a “big” moment on the album, Somni has taken a lot of care to make sure the album is always in motion, and always flowing from one track to the next, so that you never feel like the music is stagnant or boring. It’s an album that sounds amazing on your headphones on a sunny day, reminding yourself of all the good things in life.

Los Angeles has a good beat scene, but it also has a crowded one. However, within all that noise, Somni has emerged as someone with unique voice and perspective with their music, creating a sound in Home that is incredibly inviting, while still retaining a little bit of a challenge to it, so you’re always encouraged to listen closely and pick up something new each time through.