Bullion is Nathan Jenkins, an enduring cult figure of electronic music. A producer and songwriter quietly to be found connecting artists, genre and UK subculture. His credits range from Carly Rae Jepsen, Ben Howard, Nilüfer Yanya and Avalon Emerson’s breakout album & The Charm to records for Westerman and Joviale. Bullion’s celebrated solo releases, meanwhile, have run parallel on Young, The Trilogy Tapes, Jagjaguwar and his own DEEK Recordings. It’s a creative red-thread Bullion ties together on his surprise new album, Affection - a warm, occasionally off-kilter and beautifully realised pop record that’s bold enough to step from behind-the-scenes and show affection in public. Taking your own advice is integral to the material, where Nathan applies what he’s encouraged fellow artists to do in the studio for years: be open to adventure. Affection steps into a more emotionally-present, often playful space, with collaborators Carly Rae Jepsen, Charlotte Adigéry, and Panda Bear gracing avant-pop songs that prioritise feeling over fixed meaning. Across Affection, Bullion’s uncompromising approach is strengthened, in part, by softening. Masculinity, intimacy, and other contemporary concerns are punctuated by old-world charms, found in the ‘hat stands and watches’ referenced in several tracks. Affection ultimately asks how we understand people, but in being more vulnerable at least attempts to care a little less about what they think, too.