It seems that artists in the genre tend to have more of a handle on what came before and incorporate that while crafting music that is future forward. Take Kedr Livanskiy (neé Yana Kedrina). The Russian born singer/songwriter/producer and DJ has been crafting outstanding lo fi electronic pop music since the mid-Aughts. Livanskiy is one of these artists that has always seem to incorporate elements from the past in her songs and on her new EP, K-Notes out now via 2MR, she once again brings us throughly modern dance music that is held together by the best elements of 90s techno and drum & bass.

The EP send you out into the stratosphere of late 90s/00s breakbeat and drum & bass on “With Love, K…”. It’s an intoxicating way to kick things off and while elements of the tracks send you back in time, Livanskiy’s vocals keep you fully entrenched in the now. Sung in her native Russian, her lyrics are indecipherable unless you know the language but that’s really not the point. Her voice is used more as another instrument. Mixed into the track, not standing above it all and it’s quite beautiful. The laid back breakbeat of album namesake “K-Notes” is another revelatory track. Not something that would work in the club but afterwards on your headphones headed home seems absolutely perfect.

While the EP is limited to 5 songs, what K-Notes brevity is outshined by its amount of heart. Even on an initial listen, you can hear that this was all crafted with the utmost care. That is the keyword to the proceedings here, care. While taking the best of what came before it in the genre, Livanskiy has started a new chapter in her musical journey. It doesn’t feel copy and pasted together but all created by someone who’s understanding of the history and love of the music transcends eras. K-Notes should keep fans, old and new alike, satiated and patiently waiting on what she will do next.

Order K-Notes by Kedr Livanskiy HERE