About

- A TAV Essential Listening Album -

This unexpected collaborative project between London musicians - singer-songwriter Tom Misch and progressive jazz drummer Yussef Dayes - asked an intriguing question with its album title What Kinda Music – is it electronica? Is it acid jazz? Is it hip-hop? Is it neo-soul? What Kind Music amalgamates multiple genres, but thinking about labels is surely not as important as enjoying its incredibly psychedelic vibe. Released on the legendary Blue Note Records, this debut record from the British duo finds a uniquely warm synergy between Misch’s catchy riffs and laidback crooning alongside Dayes’ punchy and punctuated drumming.

Featuring guest appearances from saxophonist Kaidi Akinnibi, rapper Freddie Gibbs, and bassist Rocco Palladino - What Kinda Music reveals superb musicianship and vital rhythmic energy at every turn. An engrossing album by two of the UK’s brightest young talents that defies categorisation. — The Analog Vault

Tom Misch is a singer, producer, and guitarist, releasing music since 2012. He's also the star child of nū-jazz, and a master of the Instagram pick-up jazz guitar sound. Yussef Dayes, for his part, is best known as the man behind the drums of duo Yussef Kamaal, as well as collaborations with Alpha Mist, Mansur Brown, et. al.

Though not the most likely of bedfellows, it is immediately apparent this pairing have found a comfortable gestalt in their music: Take Misch’s pretty-boy melodies and clean, almost plastic Niles Rodgers guitar production, and throw them over Dayes’ psychedelic hip-hop tinged jazz beats. Dayes’ wild energy contrasts Misch’s chilled-out vibes perfectly. The result is a warm, vibe-y album for hype beasts and chops aficionados alike.

Basically, What Kinda Music bridges the gap between these two musicians. For fans of Misch’s tunes, there is some tasty guitar net-soul riffage and some crooning R&B bops. Fans of Dayes’ ever-evolving groove-based instrumentals get their fix too, with a barrage of drum-led jams.

Indeed, the drums are mixed front and centre, as much a melody instrument as the voice or the guitar — sometimes more so. The production is what really makes this album special — warm, compressed, and very saturated. Big synth basses carpet the bottom end, while Misch’s guitar and voice occupy the middle of the mix as wide, woozy synths and analog delay effects fill the spaces in between. There are even a few moments of choice string arrangement, reminding listeners that on top of everything else, Misch is also an accomplished violinist.

The majority of the vibe comes from the reverb / delay ambiances on everything from the vocals to the kick and the warbling white noise flutters filling up the sonic pallet. Good use of post- production makes what would otherwise sound like a jam session level up to be a fully realized project.

What Kinda Music also features an unlikely collaboration with acclaimed MC Freddie Gibbs. Sonically, it fits perfectly: the Misch / Dayes project is not far off from Gibbs’ main production collaborator Madlib.

It's refreshing to see legendary jazz label Blue Note take an interest in the new generation of UK musicians. Historically known for producing a score of influential hard bop albums in the 1950s and 1960s, in recent years their output has been focused on established American instrumentalists (trumpet player Ambrose Akinmusire, drummer Chris Dave, and bassist Derrick Hodge, among others). Here's hoping Misch & Dayes will help bridge the gap between the vibrant UK jazz scene and the far reaching American audiences. — (via The Line of Best Fit)

What Kinda Music? Well, that’s a very good question. Indie jazz? Hip-hop? R&B with hints of electronica? As the title hints, that really doesn’t need answering as it doesn’t matter. Carrying the torch of genreless music, South London pair Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes have teamed up to create an engaging and expansive project which pushes both artists into unchartered territory. A journey defined by vivid colours and flair.   

Young producer and singer-songwriter Tom Misch has been heading towards becoming a household name over the past few years, recognised for his catchy melodic writing which has captured his fan base. Alternatively, Yussef Dayes has come up through the jazz underground scene and his own cult following, creating a real name for himself with the duo Yussef Kamaal before going onto release material independently after the duo split. Having known each other for years through their South London settings, the pair reunited at a release event for Geography which became the spark for What Kinda Music. Although the pair may be from musically different backgrounds, the project shows that they jell well and highlight their broad musicality as they tap into each another’s’ energy. 

From the get-go, you realise that What Kinda Music is a deviation from Misch’s previous style. Drawing on the vigour of live performance and jams, the record isn’t overproduced and helps to paint an encompassing musical atmosphere. The title-track immediately immerses us with psychedelic vibes, powered by deep thundering synths, Misch’s high howling vocals, lush swooping strings and Dayes’ punchy punctuated drums. ‘Festival’ encapsulates the free, swirling spirit of these summer gatherings. As painful as it is casting our minds on these beautiful settings in the time of Corona, the nostalgia of this bliss is intoxicating. This wistful dreamscape continues through the cool West Coast hip-hop vibes of ‘Nightrider’, where we see superb musicianship as we hear Dayes and Tom Driessler’s bass rhythmically dance, Misch’s vocal harmonies burst through in the chorus while Freddie Gibbs’ free-flowing verse flawlessly matches the scene. Rounding off the first half, we see brilliant sonic shapes with ‘Tidal Wave’ through the juxtaposition of Dayes’ dramatic drumming and Misch’s silky vocals, whilst the mighty Aretha Franklin’s vocals are channelled for ‘The Real’ to create the summery jazz-hop feel.

The second, funkier, half of the album beings with ‘Lift Off’, a masterclass of musical prowess. The song teems with energy and vibrance, styled by a stunning conversation between Rocco Palladino’s pulsating bass and Misch’s replying guitar, whilst Dayes’ inspired drumming glues the two together. ‘I Did It For You’ and ‘Last 100’ are characteristic of that “classic Tom Misch” sound - bright and airy. ‘Kyiv’ sees the musicians really stretch their legs, showcasing class instrumental passages from both players and helping to reinforce that Dayes is one of the best fucking drummers on the scene. The trance-like ‘Julie Mangos’ builds you to the final song ‘Storm Before The Calm’, which is the perfect outro to the album with the staunch beat of Dayes’ drumming allowing Kaidi Akinnibi’s powerful sax playing to let loose and riff us out. 

Atmospheric and immersive, What Kinda Music exhibits the collaborative force of the contemporary music scene. It’s emotive and contemplative approach is enchanting, and it shows how Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes, who come from different musical settings, are able to bring out the best of each other. Spanning styles and sounds, both musicians stretch each other in different ways to create an impressive and profound work. — (via Jazz Revelations)

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Label: Blue Note, Beyond The Groove
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, 180 Gram, Gatefold
Country: Worldwide
Released: 2020
Genre: Electronic, Jazz
Style: Contemporary Jazz

File under: Modern / Future Jazz
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