7/10

While it almost felt like we had heard the end of the influential electronic duo Justice, as they have yet to follow up their 2016 LP 'Woman', one of the pair made a surprise reappearance earlier this year, looking to venture off into a solo guise. While producer Gaspard Augé has spent much of the last decade collaborating outside of his more familiar form, this is the first time we have heard him completely alone on a release. So after a wave of hype for the formative offerings, he now delivers his debut solo album 'Escapades', a record that has one foot in the past and the other in the future.

Throughout their career, Justice have established themselves as innovators of modern electronic music with a classic twist. Many of their works are heavily influenced by classical music, leading them down a more euphoric and galvanised direction than most. And for Gaspard Augé's first effort, he seems to continue this trend. 'Escapades' almost sounds like what Kraftwerk would be like if they had emerged in the 21st century. This dark and atmospheric approach to his sound, layered with soaring and muscular energy gives his first full-length a bold and textured feel that has just enough of that Justice tone to know it's him.

While it is clear he is still running along the same formula as his initial outfit, 'Escapades' has this borderless and adventurous direction to it, as we hear the man at the helm stretch his creative wings and deliver something very special. It may not be jam-packed with club bangers but makes for a captivating and shimmering introduction to his solo form.