Adrian Younge’s Masterpiece: Linear Labs: São Paulo 2024’s Lush Sonic Adventure
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Adrian Younge, an accomplished composer and multi-instrumentalist, has released an intriguing album in 2024. “Adrian Younge Presents Linear Labs: São Paulo,” fashions a symphonic fusion of psychedelic and soulful sounds. With this compilation, Younge successfully navigates his talents through an exotic labyrinth of music from all around the globe. Remarkably, the album serves as a preview window into several of his forthcoming projects under the Linear Labs label, including “Something About April III” and a novel hip hop blaxploitation escapade with Snoop Dogg named “Don’t Cry for the Devil.”
Younge, a Los Angeles-based dynamo who is equally adept at law and music, has a colorful palette of talents. Born and raised in Fontana, California, he blossomed in the field of law while concurrently honing his musical skills. His early career saw him working in the legal department of MTV and later teaching entertainment law. However, his calling to music was too strong to ignore. His initial taste of composing came through sampling records with an MPC, which swiftly led him to master a handful of instruments and embark on an exploration of analog recordings.
In this wave of sonic exploration, Adrian Younge presents an array of songs in “Linear Labs: São Paulo,” culled from other label projects. The album enlists the unique talents of several artists from around the world, augmenting Younge’s musical mosaic. The varying styles and tones of the featured artists add depth to the compilation, distinguishing it as a masterpiece in its own right. Take “Purification,” featuring Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier. Her serenity serves as the perfect centerpiece to Younge’s unpredictable harmonies. Then, “Spiraling” with Bilal stretches the album across the spectrum, from subdued and smooth to downright flamboyant.
Furthermore, his collaboration with Samantha Schmütz, a renowned artist from Brazil, on “Nossa Cor” is noteworthy. The track delights listeners with an unforgettable melody, elevated by an impressive combination of strings and percussion. Additionally, the song “Rules of the Game” is a hip hop narration wherein Snoop Dogg delivers a multitude of verses. The track makes a strong impression with its dominant fuzztone bass and synth hooks, reminiscent of Snoop Dogg’s The Chronic era.
Adrian Younge’s album “Linear Labs: São Paulo” is underpinned by the lush symphony of the Younge-arranged Linear Labs Orchestra. Here, he primarily showcases his skills on electric bass and guitar. This blending of artists and musical styles, backed by an ensnaring orchestra, has led to the creation of an album that echoes the brilliance of Younge and simultaneously foretells of the golden age of music that lies ahead. With the inclusion of artists such as Kendrick Lamar and CeeLo Green, who have previously collaborated with Younge, this compilation crafts a new narrative in the history of music, paving the way for the artists of the future to follow.
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