release date: Nov. 17, 2023
format: digital (8 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: André 3000 & Carlos Niño
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time" - 7. "Ants to You, Gods to Who ?"
Actual solo album debut by André 3000 (aka André Lauren Benjamin), who hasn't released full-length album music of his own since the Idlewild (2006) album by Outkast - one of the most succesful hip hop projects. Speakerboxx / The Love Below (2003) by Outkast has gone down in music history as the best-selling hip hop album ever to be released. André 3000 did, however, release the EP Look Ma No Hands in 2018, but other than that he has made featuring appearances on various singles and albums, although, a solo album was anticipated but never released, that's is, until now. Instead, he was cast as actor in a number of TV-series, also in a leading role in 2012, when he played Jimi Hendrix in John Ridley's film "Jimi: All Is by My Side" (premiered in 2014). Outkast reunited in 2014 for live concerts only, and since then André has lived life somewhat away from the brightest limelight and has been focusing on the production aspect of both music and films. André has been mentioned amongst the best rappers of all-time, and his songwriting and compositional touch has made people yearn for something more substantial - and something that would make everyone remember the famous riffs from the Outkast heydays.
New Blue Sun is anything but rap or hip hop. In fact, it's quiete a loooong way from what could be labelled as pop music. The album runs for more than 87 mins - almost 1½ hours of music, and only enlists eight tracks. All songs - or: they are not really songs but instrumentals as André doesn't add his famous vocal to one single track [!]. The shortest composition is track #5 "Ninety Three 'Til Infinity and Beyoncé", which has one of the shortest titles - the longest being "That Night in Hawaii When I Turned Into a Panther and Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control ... SH¥T Was Wild" (tracks #3), which runs for 10½ mins, but that aint even the longest track. The longest composition is track #8 with its running time exceeding 17 mins. All compositions are credited André mostly together with co-producer Carlos Niñho, Nate Mercereau, and often also Surya Botofasina. André himself is aside for producing and mixing credited wind instruments, including flute, baritone flute, and wind controller aka 'wind synthesizer'. Only vocals on the abum is credited Mia Doi Todd.
Musically, this falls in a category of new age and ambient. It's slow and delicate, and André has also described parts of the compositions as improvisations, where he experiments with sound. The album has actually and mostly been met by positive reviews. Some suggest the music transcends the very idea and the general perception of what (modern) music is and what it should sound like, but most critics simply admire André's musical project as something extremely unique, and an utter brave decision from someone, who could have chosen the easy way. Instead he turns to music, and to experimentation, and by that shows his genuine love for music itself.
I dunno. I'm in doubts here. The artistic journey aside, I don't think the album as such delivers on that many parameters. To me, it's the kind of music that seems suited for meditation or relaxation, and since I'm not a huge fan of new age in general, it's a bit of a difficult listen. Parts of compositions provide me with a positive energy, and parts are beautifully arranged. There's, however, long periods of almost nothingness, where you try to focus on a palette that's hardly recognisable. I do also think other artists of the genre are able to produce more interesting music. Imho, this is far from entirely bad. It's just not the kind of music I turn to except from when needing a subtle background to lean on when taking a nap.
Not really recommended but still worth knowing.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Clash 3 / 5, The Standard 2 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5, Pitchfork 8,3 / 10 stars ]
