French producer ProleteR may be new to us, but on the international electro-swing and swing-hop scene, he’s something of a legend. His new album is called Temperamental Cats.

By Graeme Smith

I know what you’re thinking: what cats aren’t temperamental? ProleteR uses the enigmatic title to introduce his latest body of work, a genre-blending journey of eleven tracks. There is, of course, plenty of the swing for which he has become known, but a fair few surprises too.

Things start chilled with the lo-fi style of Ever. Snatches of captured vocals play among the steady beat in a way that will have your ears prick up while your head nods.

From there we get the lively bombast of By Your Side, the soulful electronica of Transparency and the vibrant swing of Kermesse. As the album progresses, we are treated the romantic A letter to Anieta, the sultry You’re the only one, the soaring and swaggering Fallen King and the laidback After the Party.

Team-ups with Napoleon Da Legend (First Love), Spark Houston (Heaven), and Takada Fu (Fool for a Lifetime) give us nostalgic hip-hop, braggadocio and funkiness respectively.

ProleteR’s new album is a fine example of why he’s got the rep he has. A producer pulling in plenty of streams and follows, and sharing stages with some of the biggest names in electro swing, including Caravan Palace, he’s a force to be reckoned with.

Temperamental Cats is out now, available to buy on black vinyl. You can give it a listen below.