This year has been saturated with critically acclaimed music releases which I have awaited with relish.
Some of these I have been enthralled with and listened to numerous times escaping to the sonic landscape. With just under three months of the year there is plenty still to come not to mention the countless records I haven’t yet been able to devour in their entirety (FKA Twigs’ LP 1, Pallbearer’s Foundations of Burden, Future Island’s Singles…just to name a few).

There is an album that is making October 3rd look like it’s going to be a great day. The record is none other than Flying Lotus’ You’re Dead! To be totally honest I get lost within the music of Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus, unsure of what to think or how to react. He creates an immersive listening experience that draws from an eclectic palette of genres.

The pedigree of this album is phenomenal.
Having Herbie Hancock feature on a couple of tracks alone would spark my immediate interest. If there is anyone in the world who knew how to play keys correctly it would be him. Secondly, my favourite Bass man Thundercat is present throughout.  A long time collaborator of Ellison’s the Cat’s bubbly and frenetic bass lines beautifully compliment the spacey and glitchy production Flylo is known for. Then there are the variety of vocalists who appear including Snoop Dog (Lion), Kendrick Lamar and Ellison himself as his Captain Murphy moniker. Lets face it, nothing beats the Captain’s cult influenced dark flow.
Supposedly Kimbra also appears alongside Laura Darlington on a track which in my opinion is yet another reason to get excited for this release.  Hopefully this album is a showcase of what can be created when geniuses of different musical disciplines come together and not a case of “too many cooks in the kitchen.”

I hope that in years to come I cherish this album as much as Bitches Brew which was Miles Davis being really progressive and weird. I really liked that album. I really want to like this album too.  For more on the album check out Pitchfork’s interview with Flylo himself.