I was first came across Atlanta producer Joules when he collaborated with Adam WarRock and Tribe One on the EP Paper Cutters & Dangling Headphones last year. This year I had the opportunity to see him deejaying for WarRock during his set at SXSW. Neither of these points of exposure prepared me for the instrumental EP he just released, though, a short collection of beautiful down tempo songs. I’d have to say this is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year.

Equation of Darkness displays a producer with a subtle touch, with a great ear for shifting tone and mood. This is a record of atmospheres, which has moments of darkness, but also a great deal of warmth and hope. Joules seems very comfortable in this area of music, bringing in a few different styles and instrumentations, whether it be post-rock or lounge to fill out his sound. My personal favorite is “The F Word,” featuring Young Lee, which employs Explosions in the Sky-esque guitar trading off with synthesizers over a laid back beat, before giving way to a solo piano outro. It’s a very peaceful number, putting the listener at ease, but the composition is quite complex and unfolds with just the right pacing. Another reason I think I enjoy this song in particular is that it reminds me of an overlooked gem of a band, the now defunct Tiki Obmar. While all five songs don’t necessarily stand out as singles, they play together very well to make the EP a very fulfilling listening experience, even if it’s over before you’re ready.

Hopefully we’ll be hearing more out of Joules, because this release has definitely piqued my interest. Equations of Darkness is a total shift from what I’ve heard him produce for other artists, but he sounds right at home with this style. I’m very interested to see what comes next.