MISTER MELLOW
Stones Throw Records.
Chillwave, Downtempo, Dream Pop, Electronic.
Listening Format: CD & Digital
Stones Throw Records was the shit in the 00s. It was known for having the most cutting edge, weird and forward thinking sounds in Hip Hop predominantly. Legendary artists such as J Dilla, Madlib and MF DOOM once thrived on the label. They even made a film about it back in 2013, the excellent Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton... And then after that, just as it felt like the label was about to enter a next level phase... Nothing much happened. I honestly have tried to keep up with Stones Throw since then, but haven't really heard anything that has grabbed me. Madlib is testing out his own label, dodgy posthumous J Dilla releases keep popping up (on other labels) and MF DOOM has moved over to LEX. On the other side of the crossroads, Washed Out was at the forefront of a "microgenre" (or non genre in my opinion) named Chillwave. The alias of Ernest Greene, Washed Out arrived on the scene in 2009. His big single 'Feel It All Around' was picked up as the theme song to Portlandia, and his debut album received a critical round of applause, which is where I first heard the term Chillwave. What is Chillwave? Well it's not really a genre at all. It's basically just a hodge podge of dreamy psychedelia, hazy reverbed vocals, and elements of funky Hip Hop as well as Downtempo Electronica. Basically imagine Air and Madlib making love in a cave...!?
Cut to 2017 and Washed Out's third full length album comes out on Stones Throw Records (his previous works were on Sub Pop). Alas we can all agree it sounds like a great fit. After all his breakout song that put him on the map, 'Feel It All Around' certainly exists in that Post-Dilla & Madlib kind of bubble, even if it sounded more at home with Indie Rock fans than Hip Hop heads. I guess the expectation for Washed Out joining Stones Throw is that he might be able to channel those Hip Hop influences even further, or perhaps make his most abstract and forward thinking album to date?
Well it certainly feels like Washed Out has tried to go for that Stones Throw sound. Yet he hasn't full immersed himself into it, as some of the tracks here feel a little too much of a retreat to what he has already accomplished before. When 'Burn Out Blues' kicks into life, that pumping bassline and laid back Hip Hop-esque beat feels majestic. Even when his washed out (ahem) unintelligible vocals kick in, it sounds pretty fresh. 'Floating By' is another track that seems to implement a more dense and abstract approach. Even though it is a fairly simple and dreamy song, it is the little details that shift and change on this track that elevate it. 'Hard to Say Goodbye' goes a little too funky and upbeat, as it has this Balearic Disco beat that feels so warm and nostalgic, like something Metronomy would pump out. 'Down & Out' honours Hip Hop more than any other track here, opening with the sounds of police sirens, and an eerie spoken word sample, as it leads into 'Instant Calm' which has a hard kick and snare combo.
In just 29 minutes (yes this album is only 1 minute longer than 'Reign In Blood') Washed Out packs in a vast amount of ideas and sounds. All the tracks flow into each other really well, switching up styles and tempos erratically, similar to how his sonic peer Bibio operates. Washed Out has pushed his skills in production and sound crafting further than ever. There are so many layers and intricate details all over this album. The way Washed Out makes a sound college of eerie backmasked samples segueing 'Hard to Say Goodbye' and 'Down & Out' is such a commanding and ear grabbing moment on the record. But the biggest problems lay in the words written on the spine. Because a lot of these songs suffer from being too washed out and too mellow! I say the songs are washed out because, whilst there are plenty of ideas sonically, in terms of actual songwriting a lot of these songs feel too short and under-developed. In fact the album flows more like a mixtape than an album. Most of the tracks feel more like snippets and ideas than full compositions. And even the songs that do feel complete just feel a little too soft and unmemorable. Other than the interesting mix and layering, nothing of the vocals or melodies really ever grab me. Though I can appreciate Washed Out has made a step forward and pushed his skills as a producer, I feel that his previous albums were ultimately better written, more cohesive and memorable. 'Mister Mellow' is very much style over substance. 6/10.
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