Casino Versus Japan is one of the few contemporary electronic acts with an utterly distinctive, instantly recognizable sound; claims that CVSJ's sound is "derivative" are nonsense. If you appreciate blissfully warm ear candy, you couldn't do much better than this collection of playful, joyful beats and swirling sounds. "Whole Numbers Play the Basics" stands up to repeated listens as well, and should cement his reputation as one of the finest producers of friendly, poppy (speaking musically and florally), psychedelicized electronic music.

Too often, IDM lacks a certain warmth in the music; not so in Casino Versus Japan’s album, Whole Numbers Play the Basics. There’s a sonic pool for “Aquarium” to swim in and the temperature is just right. Same goes for the wobbly Boards of Canada-like melody on “Summer Clip.” By contrast, “Where To?/What For?” isn’t as much warm as it is bright and shimmery. There’s also a bucolic strain going through “Making Lake Park in the Sun” which immediately makes on peaceful and well. Sure, many of the sounds are derivative of other IDM groups, but the quality on this album still makes it worth a listen. Or any number of listens.