[wpaudio url=”http://wordisbond.data.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/02-Mars.mp3″ text=”M. Will The Shogun – Mars” dl=”0″]
[wpaudio url=”http://wordisbond.data.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/04-Saturn.mp3″ text=”M. Will The Shogun – Saturn” dl=”0″]
Released earlier this year, 18 year old M. Will The Shogun from New York set down this release as an ode to the jazz-funk American keyboardist Dexter Wansel. Lauded for his production during the 70’s, Wansel is cited as an instrumental figure in the birth of new age soul and jazz funk itself. Samples from his catalogue have fuelled hit music over the subsequent decades with many acts in hip-hop today owing some credit to his unique sound. It is this facet of his legacy, amongst others, that is celebrated with Life on Mars, named aptly after Wansel’s first and perhaps most popular release in 1976.
I’ll cut straight to the point; this album for me is all about the track Mars. Immediately grabbing my attention, that sound of an endlessly echoing void that grows infinitely deeper with every synth line sounded both alien and familiar at once. And of course it would, as many of us have probably heard the sample on Lupe’s debut Food & Liquor…
[wpaudio url=”http://wordisbond.data.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Food-And-Liquor-Retail-10-Cool.mp3″ text=”Lupe Fiasco – Cool” dl=”0″]
… however putting the lyrics of the above aside, the rendition at hand conveys its own message. I’m not usually partial to the synthetic sound, favouring more “organic” acoustics, but this track is so POTENT. Taken from the first 40 seconds or so of Wansel’s lead and titular single from his debut, the sounds conjure up so much cosmically dense imagery it’s unreal. Shit makes you wanna look up at the night sky and ask some big questions. Without geeking out too much on this track, I’ll draw a line by saying that if you’re into your synth-heavy, Vangelis-esque hip-hop then this tribute will do that trick. Now excuse me while I drift off to the music and dream of electric sheep…
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