Description
Paul St. Hilaire, widely recognized under his moniker Tikiman, stands as a seminal figure in the dub techno landscape, and his latest album, w/ The Producers, exemplifies his enduring influence over three decades. This collaborative project, released through Kynant Records in celebration of the label’s tenth anniversary, shifts the traditional formula by entrusting each track to a distinct producer while placing St. Hilaire’s haunting vocals at the center. The album seamlessly weaves together elements of dub techno, dub, reggae, and dancehall into a cohesive journey that respects the genre’s roots while embracing contemporary innovation. The record arrives in a thoughtfully crafted double vinyl LP format, offering collectors and audiophiles an immersive analogue experience aligned with the album’s deep, atmospheric soundscapes.
Throughout the nine tracks featured on w/ The Producers, listeners find St. Hilaire collaborating with a diverse roster of producers including Mala, Batu, Aurora Halal, Shinichi Atobe, Azu Tiwaline, and others. Each partnership introduces its own unique flavor, yet all maintain a shared reverence for bass-heavy, dub-inflected rhythm structures and hypnotic sonic textures. For example, the opening track, built with Mala’s signature tremolo strings and expansive percussion, evokes a cinematic tension reminiscent of rhythm explorations by Basic Channel or early Rhythm & Sound. Simultaneously, tracks such as the collaboration with Aurora Halal blend psychedelic synthesizers and dancefloor sensibilities, inviting comparisons to the forward-thinking productions of artists like Pitchy Pony or Dedekind Cut, who similarly straddle experimental electronic sound and dance music.
Paul St. Hilaire’s role as the sole vocalist across this project highlights his command over vocal expression within the dub techno idiom—a genre often more associated with instrumental narratives than vocal ones. His voice weaves through the evolving production styles with a presence that can be both ominous and transcendent, recalling the atmospheric storytelling found in the work of classic reggae-bedroom producers or the dub-inflected vocals of artist sets on labels like Stones Throw or On-U Sound. This vocal focus provides a human element that transcends digital textures, connecting the music back to dub’s rich heritage of vocal dub poetry and sound system culture.
The album’s title and concept, drawing on a decade of Kynant Records’ output, place w/ The Producers as a milestone in both St. Hilaire’s career and the label’s evolution. Kynant Records has become a notable platform for boundary-pushing artists within electronic and dub spheres, and this release both celebrates and expands upon that vision. Its conception as a collaborative tapestry reaffirms the label’s commitment to fostering dialogue between generations and geographies of electronica and dub, an approach that echoes some of the collaborative spirit seen in projects from labels like Ninja Tune or Hyperdub, known for merging legacy artists with rising talents.
In this context, w/ The Producers stands as a refined and mature expression of dub techno’s possibilities in the mid-2020s. By emphasizing diverse production voices alongside St. Hilaire’s distinctive vocal identity, the album negotiates tradition and innovation without resorting to nostalgia. It should appeal to those who appreciate the depth and subtle intricacy of contemporary dub-oriented electronic music and may intrigue listeners familiar with the works of Moritz von Oswald’s subsequent projects or the ongoing explorations of artists like Rhythm & Sound. This record not only continues Paul St. Hilaire’s legacy but also situates him firmly within a forward-moving landscape where dub and electronic music intertwine fluidly on vinyl.
