Flying Lotus takes us on a cosmic trip

October 7, 2012 - Arts and Entertainment - Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

By Mackenzie Viera |Staff Writer|

After Steven Ellison’s third 2010 album release Cosmogramma, Ellison (better known as Flying Lotus) has finally released his fourth highly anticipated album Until the Quiet Comes.

Being a Los Angeles native and the great nephew of Jazz musicians Alice and John Coltrane, with influences such as Dre and J Dilla, Flying Lotus inevitably developed an impeccably unique sound that lead him to becoming one of the founders of the Los Angeles beat scene. He has created a large fan base since releasing his breakthrough album Los Angeles back in 2008.
Using elements of hip hop, jazz, and dub step, Flying Lotus has intrigued fans with his unparalleled sound establishing his own genre. Synthesizers, bass, samples, electronic and African percussion are used by abstracting a collage of multiple genres creating a psychedelic, euphoric feel.

FlyLo fans – brace yourselves.

Looking back to his previous masterpiece, we tend to expect the same if not, similar funky and weird adventure trip we experienced before. However, Ellison has taken another journey in which he describes in UK’s magazine, The Wire, as “a children’s record, a record for kids to dream to.”

Indeed, Flying Lotus has journeyed from the harsh NES-in-blender with a dash cosmic feel sound, into an exhilarating but yet blissful sleep trip that’s filled with lullabies and tricked out fable-like sounds.

Although this isn’t your typical Flying Lotus since his debut album 1983, he has had an essential tendency to merge female vocals into his music as instruments.

Until the Quiet Comes features female singers Niki Randa, Laura Darlington, and the beautiful and talented Ms. Erykah Badu.

The first female featured track introduces the listener to “Getting There” with the vocals of Niki Randa. As predicted, that’s exactly what the song does – it takes us there. It lifts you up with pixie-dust-like sounds giving you a floating-into-space like feeling, preparing you for the enchanting excursion.

Secondly, is the First Lady of Neo-Soul, Erykah Badu in track nine, “See Thru To U.” In contrast to the fast tempo song prior to this one, “See Thru To U” transitions into a soulful, steady and mellow sound that gives a sense of joyful freedom.

In addition to the female features, Flying Lotus reunites with Radiohead’s front man, Thom Yorke on the  fourteenth track, “Electric Candyman.” The track starts with the vocals of Yorke, followed by a mixture of cosmo sounds.

He also collaborates with Thunderkat, who plays bass through the majority of the album, as well as adding vocals to “DMT Song.”

It’s without a doubt that Until the Quiet Comes sounds jazzy and synthesized, however, this album lacks a certain charm that previously shined vividly on Cosmogramma. Maybe its the lack of upbeat drums, or perhaps it’s the darkness that he intended to portray.

Recommended Tracks: “All In,” “Until the Quiet Comes,” “See Thru To U ft. Erykah Badu,”
“The Nightcaller,” “DMT Song.”

Until The Quiet Comes has already hit stores on October 2.