Adrian Younge has got himself a label. It’s called Linear Labs and its very first release is »There Is Only Now«, a concept record that he has composed himself. With this record, Younge has designed a beat-dress to fit the time-honored Souls of Mischief, on which they have turned a true story from their musical beginnings into the starting point of a film-like ghetto-story, all articulated through rap music. A-Plus, Opio, Phesto and Tajai are playing the main parts in this radio play / action drama, and they’re doing a great job. The same is to say about the supporting roles: For his villain-interpretation, Busta Rhymes has been dragged out from the woodwork, Delfonics-singer William Hart and Living Legends-Member Scarub are taking the mic for a cabinet piece, Snoop Dog is having a little cameo-appearance, in which he comes along unusually wise, and ATCQ-DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammed is doing his best at being the radio-host who connects all the different scenes. This much about the cast of this audio-book-like piece of work, let’s have a look at the crew: By pretty much turning into a producer of film music in »There Is Only Now«, Adrian Younge becomes the set-designer for the whole spiel. In order to create the frame for this nineties rap-story, he has chosen a certain kind of sound-aesthetics, blatantly reminding us of the highly praised days of Native Tongues. With soul and jazz being the corner stones, the foundation of it all is made of clanking drums and relaxed bass lines. It’s rock solid and also pretty chilled out. And thanks to its heartwarming eye to certain details (including the clever breaks and rising climaxes), it’s in no way care- or loveless.
Brother Ali
Satisfied Soul
Mello Music Group