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::: RELATED LINKS Shades Of Blue web page Buy album at Amazon UK | US More Reviews |
Whether as part of Lootpack or under his Quasmimoto and Yesterday's New
Quintet guises, Madlib has consistently impressed. Now Shades of Blue sees
him raiding the Blue Note archives, and then re-interpreting the tracks of his
choosing. Note that only one track on the album includes rapping; also that
half of the songs are not 'remixes' in the traditional hip hop cut-and-paste
sense; rather Madlib has recruited musicians to newly interpret the
originals. A highlight is Mystic Bounce, his remix of Ronnie Foster's 1972
song Mystic Brew, and a great new take on a track familiar to hip hop heads
as that sampled by A Tribe Called Quest on Electric Relaxation. Funky Blue
Note is a wholly new creation, inspired by the label's sound, boasting a
heavy drum pattern aimed square at the dance floor. And of the
newly performed interpretations, the YNQ rendition of Wayne Shorter's
Footprints is arguably the star, replete with the slightly offbeat swing
and abstract interludes that typify the YNQ vibe. It's these newly performed
pieces that impress most, with the 'remix' versions coming across as,
comparatively, a little over-produced at times. Overall, this is an
excellent album - a fine addition to any jazz or hip hop lover's collection.
