Stream TOKiMONSTA Desiderium (Stereogum Premiere)

Stream TOKiMONSTA Desiderium (Stereogum Premiere)

L.A. musician Jennifer Lee makes lively futuristic dance-pop under the name TOKiMONSTA. She’s been very busy in recent years, releasing two LPs, two EPs, and two standalone singles since 2010 on labels including Ultra and Brainfeeder/Ninja Tune. She was also on Skrillex’s train tour across Canada a couple summers ago among such prestigious company as Diplo, Pretty Lights, and Grimes. Lee’s latest offering is Desiderium, a seven-song set that spans a wide range of sounds. Lead single “Realla” finds Lee teaming with Anderson Paak on a floaty twilight ballad that conjures a vibe similar to Janelle Monaé and Miguel’s sensual “Primetime” crossed with Kanye West’s ominous “Blood On The Leaves.” Elsewhere, as on appropriately titled intro track “Beginning,” Lee’s classical background shines through; the instrumental unspools eerie arpeggios over a clattering bombardment of drums. And on tracks such as “Drive” or “Sakamoto Spring,” she launches into brainy pulse-pounding electronica. Desiderium is an impressive piece of work, and you can hear it in full below ahead of next week’s official release.

Desiderium is out 9/23 on Lee’s own Young Art Records. Pre-order it here, and check out TOKiMONSTA on tour this fall.

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