This music sounds like a hazy memory of a jazz club. It is thick with the smell of old vinyl and the warmth of analog tape, defined by Rhodes pianos that wobble slightly out of tune and drums that feel played by a human who is just a fraction of a second behind the beat. It is deeply rhythmic but avoids the polished sheen of modern production, opting instead for a gritty, submerged quality.
What makes this project distinctive is that it is a 'quintet' played entirely by one person, Madlib, under various aliases. It captures the spirit of 1970s jazz fusion and spiritual jazz through the lens of a hip-hop producer. The result is a sound where the mistakes are kept in, the textures are intentionally frayed, and the groove is heavy but loose.
Start with 'Angles Without Edges' to hear the blueprint of this sound. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who loves the intersection of J Dilla's swing and Herbie Hancock's electric period. It is music designed for the quiet hours when you want something soulful but intellectually stimulating.
Shares vinyl crackle as percussion, spiritual jazz, nu jazz, jazz fusion (detail)
Shares nu jazz, lo fi, jazz fusion, abstract hip-hop (signature)
Shares abstract hip-hop, nu jazz, tape saturation, soulful (subgenre)
Shares spiritual jazz, library, abstract hip-hop, nu jazz (subgenre)
Shares lo fi, jazz fusion, nu jazz, upright bass (signature)
Shares nu jazz, abstract hip-hop, upright bass, tape saturation (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, nu jazz, jazz fusion, upright bass (subgenre)
Shares nu jazz, jazz fusion, abstract hip-hop, upright bass (signature)
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