TML Radio 8.7.20: Blu & Exile Meet Miles Davis


In today’s age of constant content it’s hard to imagine artists taking their time, allowing their star to fade in the name of cultivating worthwhile art. Blu & Exile did just that as a duo, of course they have both maintained solo careers - although I can’t tell you much of what that entails for Exile, Blu has consistently delivered projects that are all worth your time.


Since Below the Heavens release in 2007, a beautiful slice of boom bap soul, fans have been clamoring for more. 2012’s Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them didn’t suffice for most - I’m not sure I even listened to it until today, definitely worth the reinvestigation. The interim time has allowed both parties to grow up, live life and come back together, admittedly disconnected and in need of some time to find their groove once more.


Find it they did, via some heavenly influences by the sonic textures of one Miles Davis. Thus Miles, their monstrous new “double” LP arrives exactly when it was supposed to. And if it doesn’t feed your mind, body and soul then I don’t know what you are listening to. Front to back it sparks that soulful boom bap vibe they captured so pristinely 13 years ago, and yet doesn’t feel old, out of place or tired. In fact it is down right inspiring. 


Blu has always been a lyricist of the top tier. Exile’s emergence from LA’s thriving beat scene in its infancy speaks to his education at the altar of 90s hiphop producers. Combined they make for a producer emcee pairing cats strive for. Their collaborative process and the fact that they know one another, spend time together and truly work in tandem, bouncing ideas off one another and blurring the line between typical producer and emcee rolls.


While better scribes than me have lots to say about Miles, it’s hard for me to not effuse praise. I haven’t been this excited by a rap album in quite some time, getting pulled in by the modern Jazz sounds cropping up throughout the world being created by kids who grew up on hiphop and have brought that swagger, sound and style to the rhythmic swings of America’s first truly original musical form.


And then there is Miles Davis. Ever since I heard Kind of Blue he has been an icon to my sonic palette. Inescapable. I’ve dug deep seeking out the depths of his styles, investigating the different era’s of sound he captured. I have more records by him in my crates than any other single artist. I’m not alone in this fascination, owner of the best selling jazz album and a personality that will forever live on, there may be nothing hip about digging on Miles today but the music speaks for itself. Blu & Exile agree, naming their album after him and naming a whole track after the man. His inspiration is present throughout the vibes laid down.


And as with how inspiration works, I pulled out all my Miles LPs last night and recorded a new episode of TML Radio bouncing back and forth from the Blu & Ex to Miles. As I got deeper and deeper into the grooves I found myself letting things play on top of each other more and more, allowing Exiles beats pound along to Miles electric freak outs. It leads to moments of craziness and sublime connection. Let it play, feel it, explore the directions of sound that are there for the grasping.


Comments

dannyb said…
This mix hits the spot! I Had it playing in the background as I finished out my day. Multiple times it grabbed my attention interrupting my focus on work tasks. The very cool thing was sometimes Miles grabbed my attention, sometimes Blu & Exile did, and sometimes it was the mixing. The mixing overlays really work nicely. 👍
August 7, 2020 at 4:44 PM
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