Title: The Nature of Sounds
Artist: Mr. Moods
Release Date: 07-Oct-2013
Genre: Trip-Hop / LoFi
License: CC BY-NC-ND
Label: Dusted Wax Kingdom
If you expect “frogs” as the first word from a vocalist, then you are either more accepting than me, or you don’t have any standards. I’m just kidding. I only mention the first word on the recording because, even after having listened to literally thousands of releases, it is probably one of the last words I expected for the opening declaration of a recording. And, I would expect that if it had been from an artist of any less skill than Mr. Moods it would likely have been a sign that I should quickly turn off the recording.
But, this is Mr. Moods, an artist who is well known and liked in the netlabel community, and the introduction to the song had sounded so good that it would have been a travesty to turn off the recording at that point. And I am extremely happy that I didn’t.
‘The Nature of Sounds’ proves what Mr. Moods is all about: jazzy, chill, down-tempo hip-hop that is smart and grooving. Even ‘Frogs’ is a track that will immediately grab you and pull you in. And, honestly, no little part of that is due to the excellent, seductive vocals from Emily Jane Carmen.
Of course, there is a lot more to the release than just the first track. There is no slouching on this release. Every track has that good, downtempo chillout style that I’ve heard Mr. Moods praised for.
Excellent drum loops, and instrumental layerings reflect on Mr. Moods name: he sets a mood, and keeps it throughout this recording. The music flows around you, allowing you to drift along with it. He never has to lead you anywhere, the music takes you along as its willing passenger.
It has to be said, there is more than a little of that Rastafarian / 420 mellow to this recording. Even just the titles of some of the tracks reflect it: ‘Everyone’s On Grass’, “Shy Mushrooms’ (again featuring excellent vocals by Emily Jane Carmen), and ‘Rainbow’ all have this 420 style mellow. I haven’t heard a better example of it since listening to Thievery Corporation.
This release is the perfect way to start the day and get yourself moving, or for winding down in the evening after a long, tiring day. It’s has a mellow groove that compliments your mood. And, that is what Mr. Moods is all about: that mellow mood.
Mr. Moods: The Nature of Sounds
Free / Donation
8.5
