RECORD REVIEW: DJ DAY - THE DAY BEFORE .:May 18 09:.
Once again my boy IX hits us with another guest record review. This time it's for one of the crew's favorite producers, DJ Day. Peace.
- Jo_iLL
How many times have you been able to go through a whole album without skipping a track because it was too good? Probably not many. DJ Day's The Day Before: The Backcatalogue 1999-2007 takes precedence as a personal favorite of all-time. It's mostly just beats that came off of singles, remixes, and exclusives on wax throughout DJ Day's years as a producer, but this is not your typical compilation of beats - this is literally a melting pot of funk genre greatness. From its first track, Four Hills, praised by record collector Gilles Peterson, to its last calming track of Make You, the album plays through like a perfect day of sunrise to sunset. His sound spectrum borders from chill to serious and he was able to blend them all seamlessly. On top of all that, add in an unreleased track with Aloe Blacc on Closer and you've got yourself a must-have. If the sunlight from this album doesn't wake you up, then you've been sleepin' too long.
-IX
Record Review: Suite For Ma Dukes .:May 05 09:.
So
this is the our first Record Review, and because I would be the worst
person to attempt to write a review, I have recruited a friend of mine
who buys music as often as he eats to handle this one. I call him JJ,
but he goes by "IX" as in the number 9. - Jo_iLL
His
legacy continues. By far, this is one of the most sophisticated
tributes to the late great James "Dilla" Yancey. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
and Carlos Niño (from Dwight Trible & the Life Force Trio's Love Is
the Answer) reinterpret select Dilla productions through chamber music.
You read that right. It's that same ol' buttery and provocative melody,
but translated into an arranged masterpiece, minus the drums. From the
flutes to the horns and to the violins, each contribution still catches
the pure essence of what made Dilla's beats sound nothing short of
amazing.
If you ever get a chance to listen to the track,
Antiquity, then take note of what Carlos Niño had to say about the
recording from Mochilla's website:
"It is also important to note
that there was a very mystical and musical rain that came through on
the bassoon tracks for Antiquity. When we heard the rain, hitting the
sky light of the main live room at Bomb Shelter, we were immediately
drawn to it! Miguel commented, that it was Dilla, and we all agreed.
When we played the music for Dilla’s mom Ma Dukes, and brought the rain
to her attention, she also agreed that it was him. If you listen
closely, you’ll hear it in the track!"
Those who were looking
for more of those neck breaking beats might shy away from this, but if
you can appreciate the effort put into it and the sheer amount of
dedication that made us followers of Dilla's legacy, then you should do
yourself a favor and pick up this gem. Four tracks of orchestrated
goodness. Proceeds from this record will undoubtely go to Maureen "Ma
Dukes" Yancey (Dilla's ma).
-IX
