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March 28, 2024, 08:30:35 PM

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Madlib - Sound Ancestors

Started by RenegadeScrew, February 16, 2021, 12:19:45 AM

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RenegadeScrew

I couldn't find a thread on this. The new Madlib album is outstanding.  Made in collaboration with Four Tet who arranged and mastered it.  It really helps having Four Tet arrange, the album doesn't have any dud tracks and flows beautifully from beginning to end.

Single (Hoprock) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOmgkVF5Anw

Full Album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyRw2zqesSk

Petey Pate

I'd say it's still a bit haphazard despite the added refinement of Four Tet, but that's always been part of Madlib's appeal for me.

RenegadeScrew

Quote from: Petey Pate on February 16, 2021, 09:31:25 AM
I'd say it's still a bit haphazard despite the added refinement of Four Tet, but that's always been part of Madlib's appeal for me.

Yeah I don't think Four Tet has had a massive input on the actual music (if any) but more on the track sequencing/choice.  Maybe editing bits together too.  It seems Madlib sent Four Tet hundreds of bits and pieces.

Whatever they have been doing works for me, I think it's Madlib's finest hour.

Johnny Textface


RenegadeScrew

Yeah, per the blurb "Music by Madlib. Edited, Arranged and Mastered by Kieran Hebden".

https://www.rappcats.com/madlib-sound-ancestors/

Four Tet has mastered some of his own albums (eg. There Is Love In You).  I suppose the vinyl versions must be separately mastered in the traditional sense of the word.

He mentions that he mastered There Is Love In You (I think) in this wonderful video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEUGilncRJs

Vitalstatistix

Cool video, thanks RenegadeScrew!

Only heard this new one once through but I enjoyed it. Not as much an obvious Four Tet involvement/influence as I'd been led to believe. Sounds very Madlibby (which is a good thing!)

The Mollusk

Gotta say my first listen to this left me quite underwhelmed. A fair chunk of it deffo bangs but there's also a bunch of tracks which I just found to be boring and uneventful. I'm not expecting a full-on boombap assault here but some of this stuff just sort of dribbles off and totally loses my interest. Obviously part of the artistic appeal is the melting pot of styles and samples creating a bigger picture but that doesn't count for much if the resulting tunes are bland.

Non Stop Dancer

I agree. Listened to a few snippets and thought "Why bother?"

RenegadeScrew

Quote from: Non Stop Dancer on February 21, 2021, 01:58:00 PM
I agree. Listened to a few snippets and thought "Why bother?"

I'm sorry but it sounds absolutely nothing like Cook and Morris.

Maybe you just don't really like Madlib I suppose, I presume you don't like anything he's done?

The Mollusk

I can't speak on behalf of Non Stop Dancer but I'm a big Madlib fan. I am used to being disappointed by his output though as he is notoriously patchy.

RenegadeScrew

Quote from: The Mollusk on February 21, 2021, 03:03:21 PM
I can't speak on behalf of Non Stop Dancer but I'm a big Madlib fan. I am used to being disappointed by his output though as he is notoriously patchy.

That's weird, I'd tend to agree, although I wouldn't describe myself as a big fan.    I think his best stuff prior to this have been the Dilla & Doom collab albums, but I've not heard all his stuff really.

Maybe I'm just hearing what I want to hear.  I always think a big difference in albums is in editing and quality control.  A lot of albums could've been made better with the simple use of a delete key.

Non Stop Dancer

Quote from: RenegadeScrew on February 21, 2021, 02:49:09 PM

Maybe you just don't really like Madlib I suppose, I presume you don't like anything he's done?

His best work (Shades of Blue, The Unseen, Madvilliany, Piñata) are all time favourites of mine. I quite like a few of the other bits he's done, but IMO he's pretty inconsistent and puts out too much, with limited quality control. This one just sounded a bit wishy-washy.

Ja'moke

Quote from: RenegadeScrew on February 21, 2021, 03:18:27 PM
That's weird, I'd tend to agree, although I wouldn't describe myself as a big fan.    I think his best stuff prior to this have been the Dilla & Doom collab albums, but I've not heard all his stuff really.

His collaborations with Freddie Gibbs (this guy can flow on any beat) are his best recent work. Both albums, Pinata and Bandana, are well worth checking out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo8Ls80pi0w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq4hPOwdjhk


The Mollusk

Piñata is one of the best hip hop albums I've ever heard. A match made in heaven and in my opinion superior to Madvillainy. The Beat Kondukta series is great as well, especially Movie Scenes and In India.

RenegadeScrew

I suppose I'll need to give Piñata another listen then.  It didn't particularly blow me away back at the time.  I remember liking the track 'real' a lot.