Better known as Caural, Chicago-bred musician Zachary Mastoon has established a voice that bridges cutting edge electronics and left-field hip-hop. Recording for respected indie label Chocolate Industries in the early '00s, Caural gained a reputation for blending traditional Eastern sounds with beat-oriented electronic music. After a few EP releases, some expert remix work and a stand-out track on the influential Urban Renewal Program compilation, Caural made a critical breakthrough with his 2002 full-length, Stars On My Ceiling. Remembering Today is a perfect introduction for new listeners and a great set to reacquaint old fans. Featuring material recorded between 2003 and 2005, it's both a companion piece to earlier releases and a link to newer works-- Caural, recently relocated to New York City, is busy recording a new full-length. He builds his elaborate compositions from the ground up, layering tiny samples of disjointed sound with drum beats and live instrumentation to create compositions that are both well structured and organic. The heavy bass, deliberate sequencing, and subtle jazz touches instrumental to his work are similar to those of Four Tet, Prefuse 73, and Daedelus, yet distinct enough to have established Caural as a producer with a signature sound.
