DJ Underbelly’s ‘Ripple’ Good for Poolside Pondering

You may know Azeem Ward tourmate DJ Underbelly from 2013’s personable YouTube tutorial “You Suck at Producing,” in which the current UCSB student good-humoredly guides the viewer through producing a drum sample. He comes off as chill, smart, and deeper than meets the ear. The same could be said for his new EP, Ripple, a three-track poolside playlist for pondering and playing alike. “Breather” opens the set with breathy beats and psychedelic innocence, while “Stingray,” a highlight, features a waterfall-like piano line. Somewhere between the nostalgic console-game chill of Friendzone and the aquatic ambience of Fur/Coyote Clean Up, DJ Underbelly makes electronica that’s thoughtful, relaxing, and very strong.