Home > Album Review > Chief “Shadows Collision” | Feelin’ Music

Chief “Shadows Collision” | Feelin’ Music

October 4, 2012 Leave a comment Go to comments

As the follow up to last years critically acclaimed electronic and hip hop production Drone Beats & Electric Waves from beat maker Chief, Shadows Collision takes on the momentum and power of the best in the game right now. Collecting tracks that are sourced from a three part series / chaper of 10″ releases called Shadows, this LP sources together a phenomenal collection of tracks that call the spirit of producers like Dibiase, Ras G, Madlib, Flying Lotus, Pete Rock and J Dilla. Heavy kick and snare is always pushed to the front while the bright glow of synthetic futuristic overtones and the analog sound of the 70′s glides in over every piece. Every song is highly imaginative and colorful, showing a producer who goes far beyond many of his contemporaries. The beats drip in organic flavor and it’s one of the best producer releases I have heard all year. With everyone releasing records this year, Chief ushers in a collection that pushes the bar even higher than I could have imagined. I feel the hazy essence of 90′s hip hop production and the glossy star world that Flying Lotus and Dibiase have tapped into. The vibrato is there and you hear someone who is tapping into a lot of diverse states of music. It’s refreshing to hear this much tonality and musicality present in the beat world.

Having heard all of the Shadows chapters before getting around to Shadows Collision, it’s really clear that Chief crafted a record out of this expansive source of material with a lot of attention to detail and track order. As the album progresses, every song takes on an elegant, spacey and soulful vibe that feels like a continuation of the last piece. The beats are constantly vibracious and stop at nothing to move your body. Even while sitting down, it’s the type of music that keeps me moving. I had the privilege of playing this record in a really nice sound system and the mastering work is top level to say the least. Everything was hitting so smooth yet powerful with single synth lines that sounded like they were bringing down buildings. The separation and compression is perfect, producing a map of sound that is hard to achieve.

Chief is one of my favorite producers and this collection only confirms my perception that he will stay in the driver seat he is currently in. There is an organic essence that goes far beyond synthetic machines in this album and it breathes every moment and on every track. It’s a record that is just as good if not better than anything I have heard in the beat scene. Shadows Collision is a heavy experience, one that I hope spreads into the masses in the form it deserves.

-Erik Otis

Order a physical copy HERE

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