In the 4 years since Adrian Younge's ''Something About April'' album first appeared, the LA-based producer and multi-instrumentalist has become his own musical cottage industry. Not only has he collaborated with musical legends ranging from The Delfonics to Ghostface Killah to Souls Of Mischief his work has also been sampled by such rap giants as Jay-Z, Kanye West, 50 Cent and Common. In an equally impressive twist DJ Premier produced an entire album with Younge's work as his only source material. ''Something About April'' is an album that flaunts all the trademarks that have made Younge an in-demand name as a composer and sample source-point. His work oozes raw, analog soul and the primal sonic edge of psychedelic rock, sitting nicely alongside Ennio Morricone's best soundtrack work, Pink Floyd's early catalogue and Parliament's Osmium. Younge's songwriting is what truly makes this album unique and keeps ears engaged. While many of his tunes are initial vamp-driven there are changes and aural twists that lurk around every corner as evidenced on standout cuts including ''Turn Down The Sound'' (sampled by Common), ''Reverie'' (sampled on Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake's ''Heaven''), ''Sirens'' (used by Jay-Z for Picasso Baby) and ''Lovely Lady'' which features Dennis Coffey.
P**E
Garage soul?
I'm listening to this CD for the first time as I write. My initial impressions are mixed. First I guess this is in a genre of its own: an experiment in genres maybe. Second the CD has a curiously basic unfinished feel. No bad thing when the results are pretty good. Laura Nyro's "Gonna take a Miracle" had a similar feel and I love that CD to bits. This CD's content however is nothing like that recording. The production is basic which is again no bad thing: little in the way of studio shennanigans. What you hear is what happened I guess. Bet there weren't many overdubs. I'm guessing this was made as an independent. I think further listenings will inform me better.
B**.
Soul vs Stereolab
Something About April II is one of those rare albums that gets better as it progresses. A back-loaded delight, it begins as retro, kitschy soul with electronic psychedelic undertones, but gets considerably weirder as Younge voyages deeper and deeper into Laetitia Sadier's beautiful Stereolab. Nice.
I**N
Great album
Great mix of soul, heavy beats. Very atmospheric and will appeal to soul and hip hop fans.
P**O
Five Stars
Masterpiece
T**M
Masterpiece
one of my alltime favoritealbums!
G**N
This is the work of a genius
This is the musical equivalent of a beautiful coral reef - extraordinary depth and richness in colour and you discover something new and enchanting every time you listen. Adrian Younge records everything using analogue equipment and methods - the result is a collection of original and hugely varied songs that evoke the late 60s/early 70s. Each is produced with great care and creativity, with lots of different instruments and sounds across the album. It's hard to classify the music, but it's broadly soul mixed with some funk, a pinch or two of classical, a teaspoon of deep rock and an infusion of European cinema. In other words, pretty unique.Give it a try. If it doesn't hook you first time round, it will, soon afterwards.
J**G
Five Stars
Very cool
A**S
Feels like I'm listening to a modern take of soul records ...
Feels like I'm listening to a modern take of soul records from the 70s. Beautifully composed and well-mixed. Classic hip hop heads will dig this. I play modern hip hop, trap, future bass and EDM on occasion. This is a nice compliment and mood changer.
A**O
Five Stars
Great follow up to the first. Go ahead and buy if you like anything else hes made.
D**I
So good. I wish Adrian Younge could write the soundtrack ...
So good. I wish Adrian Younge could write the soundtrack to my life.
A**R
Five Stars
dope
S**I
Four Stars
not as good as the Black Dynamite soundtrack
A**R
Defective record.
Record was scratched.
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