Muskoka, Ontario Canada-based producer District Lost is not new to the site and already gifted us two full-length albums in April and May earlier in the year.  He now returns for the second half of the year with a brand new project entitled The Mismatched Batch of ’24, a 9-track body of work which he calls a batch of nine instrumentals from his catalogue.

The collection starts with “Bendin’ Strings And Drinkin’ Brew”, a glitchy beat with a wide range of sounds attached to it. The intro uses fight noises from classic Kung Fu flicks and moves into a brooding Lofi-esque sound for most of its duration. District Lost also employs interesting breaks and sample switch-ups now and then to break the monotony. The next track “NYC Swing” has a summer feel with its bright jazzy chords, distorted bass-driven drums and use of rich percussions which adds depth and a vintage vinyl vibe. He also throws in another Kung Fu flick sample at the start for good measure but that doesn’t distract from the overall summer aesthetic I am getting from this track. “Late Night Phone Calls” sounds quite different from the previous cuts as the drums are crisp, clean and steady while the clinky bell-like synths and woozy pads give it a rich, offbeat energy meanwhile  “The Stuper Two-Step” is built on a snappy boom-bap drum pattern with sparse sampling techniques and a prevalent bassline that is underpinned by samples that sound like wine glasses clicking together.

The next step of beats varies in terms of style and choice of sounds that may sound of place but being this is a collection of beats, it makes sense. District Lost uses lots of thick pulsating basslines, sparse sample chops and punchy grooves throughout but what makes each of them different is in the how. “Go Home, You’re Drunk” is reminiscent of Flipmode Squad would use in the 90s, I might be wrong but that was the first rap group that came to mind. “The DL Signal” starts with a familiar drum groove but the switch up with the atmospheric synths and laser-like blips is a nice touch. It has a Dilla-esque vibe with a unique twist and the dark, moody vibes of “Just Visiting” are brilliant.

The last two tracks “The Most Lo-Fi Invasion Of All Time” and “Alien Technology” help bring the project to a close. The former uses mellow chords, spacey synth flutes, glitchy double-time drums and a pumping bass arrangement that evokes urgency while the latter double backs on the Alien vibe with a fuzzy bass synth, a two-note brass stab and head-nodding drums to complete the mission.

Is there more to say about The Mismatched Batch of ’24, besides the consistency, varied production style and cohesiveness? If I may, the simplicity sure adds an extra aesthetic to it.