In a way, that doesn’t hit you until the last decaying washes of synths and silence in “Broken Kite Footage” dry up. It becomes apparent that the very same schizophrenic qualities that detract from the overall effect of the album’s cohesive statement add to the dazzling mini-movements contained in Iradelphic’s 12 tracks. To map a web of similarities between sporadic moments may leave you feeling a bit lost, but the album’s arc as a whole – as well as the individual paths and missions the tracks themselves set out on – engages almost to the point of subtle epiphany.

Effectively, the record is divided into three distinct sections. The desolate first third has Clark strictly segregating the electronic from the elemental: folksy, introspective tracks such as “Henderson Wrench” and the glorious “Tooth Moves” feature ethereal bluegrass and exposed, major-key guitar lines, yet the colder, electric tracks in between sound a bit weird to help open the album up. The midsection, however, bestows glimpses of very human, worldly resonances, and trip-hop tracks like “Secret” feature breathy female vocals snaking through the grass before they’re whisked away to a nighttime stroll through the woods. “Ghosted” takes another left turn, diving into earthy guitar coils akin to Boards Of Canada’s The Campfire Headphase.

The latter third of the album showcases the superb triptych of “The Pining”, with Clark entangling all components previously hinted at into trails of discovery both at the microscopic and grandiose level as he jumps through fast hoops of melancholy and joyous electronica. The stance remains, though, that it might start doing Clark well to embrace both grandeur and the human voice more often.

Iradelphic is a deceptively ambitious album, and while its revelations might get a bit lost, it could be one of the most interesting releases this year.

Essential Tracks: “Tooth Moves”, “Secret”, and “The Pining pt 1”

You’ve probably already heard about the first item of business — Warp20. It’s a box set which will feature both old, aka a double CD “best of” compilation, as well as new, aka a double CD of of Warp artists covering other Warp artists. There will also be a mashup created by Osymyso, a triple 10″ of rare and unreleased tracks, and a double 10″ of “locked-groove loops” from Warp tracks (via Pitchfork).

Not bad, eh? Well, they’re only getting started…

Then, on September 3rd, Warp will take to the Big Apple for Warp20 NYC, a “four-day celebration of the music, films,” and all else one’s heart could desire. The musical aspect will take place at multiple venues across New York and will feature Warp artists like Battles, Flying Lotus, Chris Clark, !!!, Prefuse 73, Pivot and Hudson Mohawke. A complete schedule can be found at The Daily Swarm.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how you celebrate an anniversary…