8/10

After proving himself extremely prolific and groundbreaking during the latter half of the 90s, French producer St Germain has been largely silent up until now. Occasionally releasing the odd EP and remix, this self-titled new full-length is the producer's fourth album to date and his first since 2000's 'Tourist'. But given what has happened in the world of electronic music since then, what kind of sound has the successful beatmaker returned with?

Always one to fuse the conventional house rhythm with a more worldly influence, 'St Germain' is more of the same in all respects. Keeping that cohesion very much the focus of his latest release, the record aims to create a soothing yet uplifting vibe through a mixture of infectious percussion and subtle hooks. With clear nods to his original jazz influences throughout, the album is more about creating a bold and exciting atmosphere than making you want to dance, and it is that concentration of direction that helps keep this album focused on its sound.

Some might say that it is more experimental than his previous work, and that might be the case for some of these tracks. But ultimately the record is a brilliant snapshot of a producer who has been away for far too long now, and we welcome him back with aplomb.