XLR8R

Over the years, Montreal’s A-Trak has gained more acclaim as a battle-tested turntablist and club DJ than a producer. But on his debut LP, created specifically for the Nike+ Original Run series, he proves to be a consistently capable beat-maker. Considering that A-Trak was asked to make this recording precisely for the enjoyment of runners, his synth-soaked electro creations work pretty well here. But a mellow single with his recent Fool’s Gold signee, Kid Cudi, sounds out of place sitting right in the middle of this oft-pulsing album. Minus a few missteps, for a first full-length effort crafted for such a focused audience, A-Trak gets the job done.