Es-K (Essential Knowledge) was born in Holland, raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and currently lives in Burlington, Vermont. He made waves with his monthly Spontaneous Grooves releases, where a set of instrumental tracks are created in one sitting — 24 editions were released. Since then, Es-K has remained prolific with a plethora of self-released beat-constructions and albums for Cold Busted, including 2016’s acclaimed Passages. Es-K has a workman-like ethos of beat-making, with creative and top notch hip hop soundscapes constantly pouring out of his Vermont studio.  ReCollection, Es-K’s latest offering on Cold Busted, ups the ante with 24 evocative beat-based compositions representing a variety of moods and contexts. From the sparse, slightly ominous opener “Hydrgn” the listener knows this is a different kind of beats record. “Flrn,” for example, is deep and textural, owing influence to futuristic ambient as well as boom bap hip hop. There are also nostalgic, dream-like moments, such as the loping and exotic “Ptssm” and the mutant quiet storm funk of “Mngns.” The titles are indeed code for the elements, and the elements of Es-K’s production are just as varied. ReCollection is a chemistry course of smooth beat concoctions.

1. Es-K - Hydrgn (0:41)
2. Es-K - Crbn (1:55)
3. Es-K - Ntrgn (1:35)
4. Es-K - Mlydbnm (1:22)
5. Es-K - Flrn (2:06)
6. Es-K - SDM (1:30)
7. Es-K - SLCN (1:42)
8. Es-K - Phsphrs (1:28)
9. Es-K - SLFR (2:40)
10. Es-K - Chlrn (1:51)
11. Es-K - Ptssm (2:41)
12. Es-K - CLCM (1:28)
13. Es-K - Chrmm (1:15)
14. Es-K - Mngns (3:30)
15. Es-K - RN (1:25)
16. Es-K - CBLT (2:14)
17. Es-K - Cppr (0:56)
18. Es-K - ZNC (2:10)
19. Es-K - SLNM (1:01)
20. Es-K - XXygn (2:10)
21. Es-K - TN (3:08)
22. Es-K - Mrcry (2:04)
23. Es-K - Rsnc (1:38)
24. Es-K - Rbdm (1:47)