The Nature of Imitation

For all its synthetic parts, Imitation is beautifully alive. It’s fussy and whimsical, with most tracks holding onto just a handful of elements as they transform their palettes and dynamics several times over.

Combined with a higher level of musicality kept in check with a greater sense of nuance, The Nature of Imitation is Johnson's most accomplished and enjoyable album.

The Nature of Imitation is the sound of a man systematically deconstructing various genres, stripping them back to the bones underneath and then rearranging them one layer at a time until he has a new form, completely unrecognizable from what was there before. This daring, innovative approach is fully rewarded on a startlingly inventive and fresh sounding album.

F for all its lofty intentions and complex construction, it is a remarkably easy listen.

In its squelching synths and vocoded voices, Dorian Concept creates something that ’70s and ’80s electro-funk auteurs like Kraftwerk, George Clinton, and Roger Troutman hinted at: computer music that uncannily imitates the funk, rather than just faking it.

On the whole, Imitation is self-consciously danceable and overconfidently messy. It’s restless music for restless people, and while it entertains plenty for stretches, it doesn’t quite hold the focus that a 40-minute collection of songs demands.