Running to twenty-two tracks in under an hour, the latest from SBTRKT is a frenetic collage of rhythm, texture and melody that demands attention at every turn. Spreading his wings further than ever, ‘The Rat Road’ packs in such stylistic range as to be almost genreless. Electronic, soulful, and abstract this is an album that prizes maximalism and shifting focus but strikes the balance just right to avoid becoming overwhelming. As just one example, ‘L.F.O’ manages to feature two top vocalists in George Riley and the return of Sampha in an electronic stomper before descending into sparse live, piano chords and a barely held together breakbeat as an extended outro. Newcomer Leilah delivers the defining voice here, collaborating on four tracks, while familiar names Sampha and Little Dragon return, and Toro y Moi delivers a pair of vocal turns including highlight ‘Demons’.