Eric Hilton—co-founder of the pioneering downtempo collective Thievery Corporation—returns with A Sky So Close, a lush, sensuous new solo album arriving Friday, February 20 via his Montserrat House Music imprint.
An immersive journey through 12 tracks of hypnotic rhythm and atmospheric depth, A Sky So Close offers a refuge from modern anxiety—an invitation into a floating, indulgent sound world where groove and texture take precedence over climax. Drawing on Hilton’s signature blend of trip-hop foundations, global instrumentation, and meticulous sound design, the album unfolds like a continuous, slow-burn meditation.
Hilton’s production is as refined as ever, combining layered sampling with live performance to create grooves that feel organic, tactile, and timeless. Basslines remain central to the album’s pulse, weaving between live playing and sampled elements to form new rhythmic shapes. Tracks like “Kali” and “Ghatam” showcase some of the record’s deepest low-end moments, grounding the album’s weightless atmosphere in physical sensation.
The album’s first single, “The Dharma Lovers,” sets the tone—sultry, unhurried, and transportive. The track is available now on YouTube and all streaming platforms.
While largely a solitary, introspective work, A Sky So Close features select collaborations, including standout vocal performances from longtime Hilton collaborator Natalia Clavier. Her presence on tracks like “Lalita” and “Kali” adds an intimate, devotional quality, blending sitar, chant, and soft melodic phrasing into the album’s dreamlike palette.
The title track expands the album’s sonic scope, pairing tabla textures, strings, wah-guitar accents, and a rolling bassline into a widescreen, otherworldly expanse. Elsewhere, “The Emerald Door” ventures into desi-inflected drum and bass territory, nodding subtly to late-’90s Asian Underground influences while remaining distinctly Hilton’s own.
As the album closes, Hilton gently guides the listener back toward reality. “Behind My Eyes (Reprise)” offers a relaxed yet muscular groove, while “The Lotus Gate” ends the record on a note of mystery—suggesting forward motion without resolution.
“This record is an atmosphere, a state of mind,” says Hilton. “I indulge myself by making music that I want to listen to. It’s more solitary than some of my other work—less about guests, more about stream of consciousness.”
A limited 180-gram vinyl edition of A Sky So Close is available for pre-order now via Eric Hilton’s official store.
Let go, fall inward, and drift upward—A Sky So Close is waiting.
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