1983

Twenty years before this glossy Brainfeeder reissue, Steven Ellison recorded his debut in his grandmother’s bedroom. 1983 captures the producer right before his ascent into the maximalist jazz-fusion epics that would soon define his career, presenting a raw artist still anchoring himself in the Los Angeles beat scene.

The record's dusty, sample-heavy atmosphere draws deeply on the lineage of J Dilla and Madlib, leading XLR8R to crown it "a rare species of cosmic underground hip-hop." Due to its reliance on those foundational influences, some critics met the offering with mild skepticism. Pitchfork felt the project ultimately lacked distinction, remarking that "like an overly workshopped novel, the album is stylish, well-turned, and interchangeable with its peers."

Despite early accusations of derivation, the debut thrives on an easygoing charm prioritizing head-nodding groove over relentless experimentation. AllMusic praised the work as "controlled and circular but also very warm and expressive," highlighting its playful restraint. It remains a crucial snapshot of a bedroom producer whose distinct psychedelia was just beginning to synthesize, staying steadfast in its purpose "without forgetting to funk," as Cokemachineglow noted.