John Roberts creates a specific kind of electronic music that feels less like a nightclub and more like a private gallery or a well-curated library. His sound is defined by a delicate, almost fragile approach to house music, where the rhythms are constructed from brittle clicks, found sounds, and the warm, dusty crackle of old vinyl. It is music that breathes, leaving plenty of space between the notes for the listener to inhabit.
What truly sets him apart is his use of organic instrumentation, particularly the piano, which often sounds like it was recorded in a distant room on a slightly warped tape. There is a profound sense of melancholy and urban isolation in his work, yet it never feels cold. Instead, the analog warmth and the tactile nature of his samples provide a comforting, cocoon-like experience for those who prefer their electronic music with a soul.
Start with his debut masterpiece, Glass Eights. It perfectly encapsulates his ability to turn minimal house into something deeply emotional and cinematic. From there, move to Fences to hear a more refined, slightly more experimental take on his signature 'dusty' aesthetic.
John Roberts is an American record producer and electronic musician. He rose to critical acclaim with his debut album Glass Eights in 2010 and his follow-up album Fences, both released by Dial Records. In 2009, Roberts co-founded the contemporary culture magazine, The Travel Almanac, with fellow musician Paul Kominek. In 2015, he started his own label, Brunette Editions. In 2017, he released a self-titled album under the alias Body Four. Roberts currently resides in Los Angeles.
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); contemplative, melancholic, mysterious (moods)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); absent, processed, whispered (vocal style)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); absent, processed, whispered (vocal style)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); absent, processed, whispered (vocal style)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); contemplative, melancholic, mysterious (moods)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); absent, processed, whispered (vocal style)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); contemplative, melancholic, mysterious (moods)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); absent, processed, whispered (vocal style)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); contemplative, melancholic, mysterious (moods)
Shares minimal techno, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); contemplative, melancholic, wistful (moods)
Shares dusty, minimal techno, ambient techno, serene (signature)
Shares melancholic, dusty, minimal techno, ambient techno (signature)
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