#160: Black Origami
Ranking The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far (2025)
Jlin, 2017
This album is an electronic assault on the senses, led by percussion, marching band-like pulses and short, clipped vocal samples, creating a dynamic, ethereal atmosphere. It took me a while to get into this, but then I realized that this isn’t music from this century - Jlin is creating music about 500 years too soon. This album is a soundtrack to a movie that hasn’t been made yet. It’s unlike anything I had heard before, and by the third track, “Kyanite,” I started thinking something special was happening. The fourth track, “Holy Child,” really gets out there, and continues on through the next 7, pushing further and further what 21st century music is. It really sounds like music made in the 31st century by this point, not just sounds and combinations but also futuristic concepts of music.
As mentioned, it took me a few listens to get into this one - it’s not a casual listen, I had to stick with it a few times through before getting into it. It’s not one that will grab everyone but it is an album that will stick around until audiences 1000 years from now will understand.