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Miles Away is the latest in releases to evolve from producer & arranger Madlib's first jazz releases with the group Yesterdays New Quintet. As Yesterdays New Quintet dissolved in 2007 the collective was expanded under the name Yesterdays Universe, out which The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble became the first to release music with Summer Suite (Stones Throw, 2007). Miles Away is a jazz fusion album which has been tweaked and revised for over two years when it was first announced. It will be released in Spring 2010. Produced & arranged by Madlib. Cover painting by Radek Drutis.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I remember talking with my piano teacher about playing jazz, she said I would need formal training if I was to have any hope in sounding professional. In this album Madlib refutes this claim. As far as I'm aware he is a completely self taught musician and yet his playing reeks of professionalism. He does this by taking the emphasis off of technical ability and onto production value-all of the instruments on this album are impeccably well produced. The piano sounds bright, the vibraphones twinkle, the flute sounds very funky and most of all the drums are TIGHT!
I'd love to give this album 5 stars but I have to knock it down to 4.5. Although it's coherent and well produced, there isn't much change in timbre throughout the entire album. If the first track doesn't appeal to you, don't expect the rest to.
I'd love to give this album 5 stars but I have to knock it down to 4.5. Although it's coherent and well produced, there isn't much change in timbre throughout the entire album. If the first track doesn't appeal to you, don't expect the rest to.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Pretty much a straight jazz album from Madlib - and quite possibly the best thing he has ever done.
As the title (of both the album and Madlib's 'band') suggest, "Miles Away" seems to be influenced by Miles Davis' post-Bop late '60s/early '70s "Electric" period. That said, it is definitely not "Bitches Brew", but rather a kaleidoscope of rhythms, sounds and textures reminiscent of artists such as Larry Young, Roy Ayers, Harry Whittaker ("Black Renaissance" - oh my word) and Pharoah Sanders from the same period. Maybe it's my imagination but I can also hear the spirit of Can's "Tago Mago" bouncing around in there too (check the Larry Young track).
Remarkably, as with his other excursions into jazz (e.g. as Yesterday's New Quintet) in reality there is no such band as The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble. Madlib is not just a Hip-Hop DJ and producer, he is also a talented multi-instrumentalist. These sounds are not samples of other people's music - all of it is created by one man in a studio with a bunch of instruments.
However, the really clever and original bit about "Miles Away" is that unlike "Bitches Brew", "Big Fun" or "On The Corner" (or even "Tago Mago") you won't find yourself having to sit through hours of experimental, improvised sound to experience their fleeting splashes of psychedelic pop genius. Applying his Hip-Hop principles, Madlib has stripped away the indulgent and impenetrable bits and spliced together all the peak elements - those rhythms, stabs and riffs, the bits which work for a hungry pop fan like myself - and created ten short tracks that deliver that radical Electric jazz sound without ever once disappearing down a musical cul-de-sac. For somebody who loves the idea behind "In A Silent Way" and "Dark Magus" but is usually far too impatient to listen to them in one sitting, this is a very beautiful thing. The result is joyful and infectious in a way that jazz rarely (or probably never) is. As if to underline the broader appeal this record may have, I was alerted to it after reading a gushing review by Paul Morley (Paul Morley!!) in The Observer.
Oh and, just as with some of Mile's '70s work, the cover art - the whole package in fact - is fantastic too!
As the title (of both the album and Madlib's 'band') suggest, "Miles Away" seems to be influenced by Miles Davis' post-Bop late '60s/early '70s "Electric" period. That said, it is definitely not "Bitches Brew", but rather a kaleidoscope of rhythms, sounds and textures reminiscent of artists such as Larry Young, Roy Ayers, Harry Whittaker ("Black Renaissance" - oh my word) and Pharoah Sanders from the same period. Maybe it's my imagination but I can also hear the spirit of Can's "Tago Mago" bouncing around in there too (check the Larry Young track).
Remarkably, as with his other excursions into jazz (e.g. as Yesterday's New Quintet) in reality there is no such band as The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble. Madlib is not just a Hip-Hop DJ and producer, he is also a talented multi-instrumentalist. These sounds are not samples of other people's music - all of it is created by one man in a studio with a bunch of instruments.
However, the really clever and original bit about "Miles Away" is that unlike "Bitches Brew", "Big Fun" or "On The Corner" (or even "Tago Mago") you won't find yourself having to sit through hours of experimental, improvised sound to experience their fleeting splashes of psychedelic pop genius. Applying his Hip-Hop principles, Madlib has stripped away the indulgent and impenetrable bits and spliced together all the peak elements - those rhythms, stabs and riffs, the bits which work for a hungry pop fan like myself - and created ten short tracks that deliver that radical Electric jazz sound without ever once disappearing down a musical cul-de-sac. For somebody who loves the idea behind "In A Silent Way" and "Dark Magus" but is usually far too impatient to listen to them in one sitting, this is a very beautiful thing. The result is joyful and infectious in a way that jazz rarely (or probably never) is. As if to underline the broader appeal this record may have, I was alerted to it after reading a gushing review by Paul Morley (Paul Morley!!) in The Observer.
Oh and, just as with some of Mile's '70s work, the cover art - the whole package in fact - is fantastic too!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Nice one...
14 Mar 2010
Format:Audio CD
I am sure that enough has been written/is being written about the prolific output and genius of DJ Madlib nee M. Otis Jackson,Jr. 'Miles Away' is the latest in a series of releases to come throughout the year from Madlib. I believe so far, 4 Madlib-related releases have already come out in 2010, each speaking to a facet of his multi-faceted career- producer, DJ, musician, and MC. 'Miles Away' is jazz fusion album with I believe MadLib playing most, if not every instrument, under a number of guises. The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz and percussion Ensemble alias first made its debut on the 'Yesterday's New Universe' c.d. a few years back (another excellent project btw) and now we have the full length project 'Miles Away'. Gimmicks aside --this is a grooving album. Heavy on groovy-vibes and floating melodies, and great playing throughout. It swings and has a pleasant cohesion from start to finish. The project has an authenticity to it that truly amazes. 'Miles Away' would not have been out of place in 1974, released on some fabled small collective label from out of Los Angeles. Every track is an homage to the greats of the independent jazz movement from the 60s and 70s (i.e Sun Ra Sleeping Beauty, Horace TapscottVol. 2-Dark Tree, Woody ShawRosewood, Roy AyersMystic Voyage), and also some of its newest champions (Dwight TribleLove). It's as if Madlib intended to create a project that future crate diggers would stumble upon and mine for beats or serve as inspiration for that time's latest incarnation of the hip-hop underground. Beyond coming off as some rare esoteric work released in limited numbersFreedom Rhythm & Sound Revolutionary Jazz 1963-82, it brims with personality and is a welcomed offering in this current era of easily digestible, lifeless, and disposable music. You may have to attune your ears if your not use to this kind of vibe, but trust you will be aurally and mentally rewarded should you do so. Incidentally, the album packaged is lovingly conceived and highly prized if you are a collector (vinyl edition). Highly recommended.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Amazing!
4 Jun 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Each track has about 2-4 "songs" in them on average. They are all tributes to Madlib's various jazz influences. Beautiful! Sounds great on my headphones!
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