The first time Madlib has worked with studio musicians. Featuring Dan Ubick on guitar, horn arrangements by Todd Simon, and the drums of Malcolm Catto (MoWax, DJ Shadow). Sound Directions features the most accessible YNQ joints to date – covers of funk and soul classics by the likes of Marvin Gaye and joints sampled by A Tribe Called Quest, Diamond D, Kool G Rap and more. From twisted hip hop bliss to one-man-band vinyl alchemy... Madlib – the producer behind Quasimoto, Madvillain, Jaylib, Yesterday’s New Quintet and Shades of Blue (Blue Note remixes) – delivers yet another genre-exploding project further proving that there is no end to Yesterday’s Universe, nor the mind of Echo Park’s illest. With this latest instrumental excursion, Madlib offers up a funky side project for his blunted-out, jazz-cat legions.He’s put the curse on some of L.A.’s most in-demand session musicians and dubbed the resulting madness SOUND DIRECTIONS.
60s and ’70s tunes from Marvin Gaye, J.J. Johnson and L.A.Carnival get the heavy breakbeat treatment, while mellow organs and guitar solos lace the newest version of Billy Brooks’ classic “40 Days” tune (anyone recognize that A Tribe Called Quest bassline from “Luck of Lucien?). Then there‘s the Sound Directed version of “A Divine Image” by David Axelrod, which you must hear to believe. The legendary Capitol producer’s late ’60s catalog is sacred ground to vinyl connoisseurs the world over, but Madlib goes forth with the blessing of Axe himself. To fully realise the Sound Directions experience, Madlib enlisted the expertise of session players, including the hammering funk breaks of UK drummer extraordinaire Malcolm Catto (MoWax, DJ Shadow). But the uniquely unpredictable, often unearthly, sounds balancing it all out come courtesy of the man, Madlib. That’s him on samples and sometimes drums; that’s him on keys; that’s him on herb smoke. Another chapter begins in the direction of sound.
File Under RARE GROOVE/FUNK/JAZZ
