aaamusic | On 08, Jul 2014

Check out the new talent in town: Brooklyn-based artist Taylor McFerrin, whose debut album Early Riser has recently been released by Brainfeeder. Electronic music producer, multi instrumentalist and singer, he already has the blessing of other fellow musicians like jazz pianist Robert Glasper and jazz/electronic bassist Thundercat, both of whom feature in the track ‘Already There’, which gives us a good grip of McFerrin’s world.

It starts on fast drums and a growing keyboard background changing into jolly effects with beautiful series of chords. The track’s influences transcend you into another time – a lush and mellow ’60s/’70s era, at the time of the kings of the Modern Beat Generation and Golden Era hip hop.

Even though the track seems simple from the outside, it is actually quite elaborate, and the drum seizures give a nicely regular yet surprising overall movement to it. An unexpected modulation brings a stream of fresh air at 1’43, definitely lifting you above the clouds. It gets more jazzy and electronic here, Glasper and Thundercat contributing well to this feel. The track then ends in decrescendo, as if you were calmly waking up in stages from a beautiful and blurry dream.

★★★★★

Marguerite Gallorini