Pianist/producer Kiefer Shackelford, or just plain Kiefer to his many fans and followers, is a great example of what happens when a musician is both in control of their own musical path and allowed to develop it over several albums to reach their full potential. A cult favourite of connoisseurs of lo-fi hip-hop imbibed jazz, Kiefer has quietly been releasing albums such as Kickinit Alone, Happysad, The Bridges and Superbloom on Bandcamp since 2017; his fractured sampled grooves often disguising the fact that he's a very talented jazz and classically trained keyboardist who was tutored by the likes of jazz guitar guru Kenny Burrell, flutist James Newton and pianist Tamir Hendelman.

While previous LPs have placed wonky melodies, glitchy timing and crackling vinyl textures to the fore, the insistent ear-worm melodies and intricate, highly intentional nuances that pepper every track have increasingly given way to his lustrous piano playing. Thus, his transition from sole multi-instrumentalist to full band for this richly layered yet melancholically-tinged LP seems timely. Indeed, far from falling flat the strong line-up here elevates Kiefer's less-is-more melodic approach to new heights, with percolating percussion, and slippery rhythm section sorties from Sam Wilkes and Jonathan Pinson driving the tight but loose grooves. Yet it's on the albums title track (a tasteful take on The Crusaders' cut from their 1974 LP Southern Comfort), that Kiefer and crew truly achieve lift-off.