Lapalux is UK producer Stuart Howard and Ruinism is his third album, a collection of a dozen ambient tracks of disparate approaches and structures. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes agitated, you’re never quite able to settle into a groove because just when you do Howard switches things up on you. An example of this is “Petty Passion”, which opens with a smooth flow before a barrage of elements are introduced at the 57 second mark to break the mood and rebuild it as something new and different.

I find myself more drawn to the tracks that include vocals, such as “Rotted Arp (feat. Louisahhh” and “Falling Down (feat. JFDR)” (Icelander JFDR also appears on “Flickering”). Howard’s compositions maintain more consistency when used in conjunction with a vocalist, though that’s not to say he doesn’t add a surprise or two here and there.

You can listen to Ruinism on Lapalux’s Bandcamp page HERE.