Limited to 300. As a formal conclusion to 2016, Youngbloods' 13th release is the sophomore album from Dutch producer and vocalist Kratos Himself, "Stay True"—on Powder Blue 12" vinyl.
As a stunning follow up to 2015's Loon Garden and its exploration of the zeal behind new love, Stay True soundtracks the producer’s iliadic journey from betrayal to the forging of new independence and self love. Opening to a quick descent, Kratos Himself (real name Jethro Hopmans) carefully narrates his transformative ascension, playfully winding through footpaths lined with warm Rhodes piano chords and off-kilter percussive rudiments. In telling his story, Hopmans finds himself the humble servant to a beast larger than himself, and in doing so puts his musical aptitude on display while illuminating the woodland caricatures of contemporaries Caribou, Bonobo, and Shigeto.
As if leaving a watermark on a tale bound to outlive him, Stay True sees the introduction of Hopmans own voice, most prominently featured on “Heartless” and woven throughout the rest of the album. Stay True also sees the return of London's Bev Lee Harling and Hopmans' first collaboration with Toronto Hip-Hop artist and singer Copasetic.
