Steve Lawson
my favourite music right now - this and the Luke Cage soundtrack. Everything about Adrian and Ali Shaheed's vibe is perfect - the beats, the production, the bass. The perfect melding of hip hop, jazz and cinematic soundscapes. Unmissable
Mort Winkler
Love this whole album, the flow, the movie soundtrack vibes, the changes, the drums! And Ladybug!
Favorite track: Do It Together feat Bilal.
Steve Parry
I really wanted to like this album but I just don’t.. The first quarter, especially, has some sloppy playing and the majority of the songs just sound like players noodling in a room to amuse themselves.
Another point is that I think the vinyl has been mastered/cut badly. I made a point of paying extra because I like my vinyl but was very disappointed, more so that it cost the same price as the record again in shipping. £50 for an album I’m not happy with
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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
When two of hip-hop’s most accomplished composers get together to make an album you know the results are going to be special. Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) & Adrian Younge began their work together in 2013 on the critically acclaimed album There Is Only Now and their partnership cemented on their score work for Marvels’ Luke Cage. Today, they are proud to announce the forthcoming release of their carefully constructed and masterful The Midnight Hour. It is the duo’s long awaited album and it showcases their songwriting ability like never before.
Lead track and first single “Questions” featuring CeeLo Green is out today and has an unlikely origin story that CeeLo, Adrian and Ali originally explained to Pitchfork back in 2016, when a demo version of the song appeared as a sample on “untitled 06 | 06.30.2014.” off of Kendrick Lamar’s untitled unmastered. project. The completed track perfectly captures the album’s underlying roots in hip-hop’s origins and can be heard HERE.
The 20 track, 61 minute, full length double album, will be released on Linear Labs and distributed digitally by INgrooves and vinyl will be distributed by Traffic Entertainment, world wide on June 8, 2018.
Black Beacon
Mare feat. LadyBug Mecca
It’s You feat. Raphael Saadiq
Questions feat. CeeLo Green
So Amazing feat. Luther Vandross
Gate 54
Do It Together feat. Bilal
Redneph In B Minor
Better Endeavor
Smiling For Me feat. Karolina
Don’t Keep Me Waiting feat. Marsha Ambrosius
Bitches Do Voodoo feat. Angela Munoz
Possibilities feat. Eryn Allen Kane
Mission
Dans Un Moment D’errance feat. Laetitia Sadier Questlove and Keyon Harrold
Love Is Free feat. Eryn Allen Kane
Together Again feat. No I.D. and James Poyser
Feel Alive feat. Karolina and Loren Oden
There Is No Greater Love feat. Loren Oden and Saudia Yasmein
Ravens
Includes unlimited streaming of The Midnight Hour
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...more
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The Midnight Hour 2XLP
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
DOUBLE LP VINYL
Includes unlimited streaming of The Midnight Hour
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
The Midnight Hour is Black excellence: an ode to the cultural sophistication that the Harlem Renaissance established for its people. The Midnight Hour is comprised of Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge, alongside a tight rhythm section and a full orchestra. The album has features from CeeLo Green, Raphael Saadiq, Marsha Ambrosius, Bilal, Eryn Allen Kane, Karolina and more.
Adrian and Ali began working on this album back in 2013, but put the project aside as they would score the hit Netflix series Marvel’s Luke Cage (the two even perform in an episode of the upcoming second season). The Midnight Hour is a soul/jazz/hip hop album which continues the conversations started by yesterday’s jazz and funk pioneers; those that created the bedrock of samples for hip hop producers in the 80s/90s. The Midnight Hour is sophisticated hip hop that fans will enjoy, capturing their jazz rhythm section, and a full orchestra, to analog tape.
One of the seminal compositions, “Questions,” originally began as an unfinished Midnight Hour demo with Cee-Lo Green. However, Kendrick Lamar heard the track and wanted to sample portions for his GRAMMY-winning album To Pimp a Butterfly (the song ultimately made it to Kendrick’s 2016 compilation Untitled Unmastered as "Untitled 06 | 06.30.2014."). The full, completed version of “Questions” is now the lead single on The Midnight Hour.
“So Amazing” is a reimagining of Luther Vandross’ 1986 single. Ali and Adrian took Luther's original vocal stems and composed new music, as if they were in the room with Luther originally. This transcendental recording is something that really makes The Midnight Hour special.
The 20 track, full length double album, will be released on Linear Labs and distributed digitally by INgrooves and vinyl will be distributed by Traffic Entertainment, world wide on June 8, 2018. For more information, please visit www.linearlabsmusic.com.
credits
released June 8, 2018
The Midnight Hour: Album Liner Notes
All music composed, produced, recorded and mixed by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge at Linear Labs Studios, Los Angeles, CA. unless otherwise noted. Mastered by Dave Cooley for Elysian Masters. Executive Produced by Andrew Lojero. All songs published by Linear Labs Publishing (ASCAP) and Cool Abdul Music (ASCAP). Album design by Alice Butts. Photography by The Artform Studio.
1. Black Beacon
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Grand piano, electric bass, vibraphone, flutes, alto, tenor, sopranino, saxophone, timpani, drums, percussion
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
2. Maré Feat Ladybug Mecca
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Ladybug Mecca; backgrounds by Loren Oden & Saudia Yasmein
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Upright piano, electric bass, vibraphone, alto saxophone, drums, percussion
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
3. It’s You feat Raphael Saadiq
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Rapheal Saadiq
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, percussion, bass clarinet, sopranino & alto saxophone, drums
ii. Rapheal Saadiq: Electric Guitar
iii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, Conducted by Brooke DeRosa
4. Questions feat CeeLo Green
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by CeeLo Green
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, hammond organ, upright piano, percussion, flute, vibraphone
ii. David Henderson: Drums
iii. Jack Waterson: Acoustic guitar
iv. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
5. So Amazing feat Luther Vandross
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Luther Vandross
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Wurlitzer electric piano, electric bass, electric guitar, tubular bells, carillon, celeste, alto & sopranino saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flutes
ii. David Henderson: Drums, percussion
iii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
6. Gate 54
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Grand piano, fender rhodes piano, electric bass, drums
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
7. Do it together feat Bilal
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Bilal; Background vocals by Bilal and Saudia Yasmein
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, electric guitar, vibraphone, flutes, alto, tenor & baritone saxophone
ii. David Henderson: Drums
iii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
8. Redneph In B-Minor:
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, tubular chimes, electric guitar, vibraphone, drums, percussion
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
9. Better Endeavor
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, hammond organ, electric guitar, electric bass, vibraphone, drums, percussion
ii. Jack Waterson: Guitar
iii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
10. Smiling For Me feat Karolina
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Karolina
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, hammond organ, analog synthesizer, flutes, alto saxophone
ii. Jack Waterson: Acoustic guitar
iii. David Henderson: Drums
iv. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
11. Don’t Keep Me Waiting feat Marsha Ambrosius
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Marsha Ambrosius
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, electric guitar, vibraphone, drums
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
12. Bitches Do Voodoo feat Angela Muñoz (Midnight feat Angela Muñoz)
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Angela Munoz
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Grand piano
13. Possibilities feat Eryn Allen Kane
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Eryn Allen Kane
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, upright piano, electric bass, electric guitar, alto & baritone saxophone, minichime, drums, percussion.
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
14. Mission
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Marsha A.
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, electric guitar, carillon, percussion, analog synthesizers, alto & baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute
ii. David Henderson: Drums
iii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge and _____(Ed and crew?), conducted by Brooke DeRosa
15. Dans Un Moment D’errance feat Laetitia Sadier, Questlove and Keyon Harrold
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Laetitia Saidier
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Wurlitzer electric piano, hammond organ, electric bass, analog synthesizer, flutes, alto saxophone
ii. Keyon Harrold: Trumpet
iii. Jack Waterson: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar
iv. Questlove: Drums
v. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
16. Together Again
a. Musicians:
iii. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Electric bass, electric guitar, carillon, alto, baritone & sopranino saxophone, drums
iv. James Poyser: Fender Rhodes piano
v. No ID: Percussion
vi. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
17. Love Is Free feat Eryn Allen Kane
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Eryn Allen Kane
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, electric guitars, alto saxophone, drums
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
18. Feel Alive feat Karolina and Loren Oden
a. Lyrics: performed by Karolina and Loren Oden (ask me later about writing)
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes piano, upright
piano, hammond organ, glockenspiel, electric bass, electric guitar,flute, bass
flute, alto & baritone saxophone, drums, selene
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, Conducted by Brooke DeRosa
19. There Is No Greater Love feat Loren Oden and Saudia Yasmein
a. Lyrics: Written and performed by Loren Oden & Saudia Yasmein
b. Musicians:
vi. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Upright piano, electric bass, vibraphone, drums, percussion
vii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
20. Ravens
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Upright piano, hammond organ, clavinet, drums, electric bass, electric guitar
ii. Linear Labs Orchestra: Orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
supported by 102 fans who also own “The Midnight Hour”
Only recently discovered this and am asking myself why I had never heard of Yussef Dayes in particular... live this whole album. Such musicianship and a fresh/modern take on classic jazz forms. Massive respect to the musicians Pilot Fish
