Left of center Hip-Hop/Electronica beat maker Alias, a.k.a. Brendon Whitney is back with his first official solo album in five years. His last two records were collaborative efforts with his brother Ehren (the beautiful Lillian) and female vocalist Tarsier (the tedious Plane That Draws A White Line) respectively, but Resurgam is officially the follow-up to his sophomore 2003 effort Muted.

Inspired by his move from his Anticon label home of Oakland, California back to Portland, Maine (which is where Whitney grew up near) Resurgam is definitely an album inspired by reflection, migration and looking forward (right down to the cover art of a flock of migrating birds). The beats that Alias comes up with here are his most ethereal to date and intoxicating to say the least. Two parts DJ Shadow to one part mix of French influenced Electro that is reminiscent of the likes of Air and M83, Resurgam is easy on the ears and a space-age odyssey that's easy to get lost within. Tracks such as "I Heart Drum Machines," "Death Watch" and "Oakland in the Rearview' are the best tracks here, all awash in the magnificence that is Alias' superb synth and drum machine work. Resurgam will definitely be near the top of the pile for best Electronic albums of 2008.