If this were the Middle Ages, then Will "Quantic" Holland would probably be burned at the stake for being a wizard. Because there is seemingly no music genre that he can't assimilate and demonstrate a mastery of with each new record he releases. For his latest, A New Constellation, he and his band project, The Western Transient, evoke the vibe of LA's soul-jazz scene, using classic recording methods to perfection. Tracks like the album-opener "Latitude" and the single, "Creation (East LA)," go down so smoothly, with easy grooves, stellar horn arrangements and the Latin flavor that informs all of Quantic's work. Thankfully, in our era of music appreciation, we choose not to condemn such magic, but instead celebrate and cherish it.
-Eric J. Lawrence