The Midnight Hour is a 2018 studio album by American musicians Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge.
The Midnight Hour | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 8, 2018 | |||
Recorded | Starting 2013 | |||
Studio | Linear Labs Studios, Los Angeles, California, US | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 60:42 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Linear Labs | |||
Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge chronology | ||||
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Reception
editEditors at AllMusic rated this album 4.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Andy Kellman writing that several tracks are stand-out and "the freer moments are almost as stimulating as the deliberately composed numbers".[1] That outlet also chose it for one of the best rhythm and blues albums of the year[2] and one of the best albums of any genre.[3] Matt Bauer of Exclaim! rated this release a 7 out of 10, for being "both intimate and expansive", creating "a perfect chillout for the woke".[4] Writing for Pitchfork Media, Brian Josephs praised "a peculiar live intimacy to the production that threads through hollowed-out kick drums and scratchy bass strings" that still upholds the "soulful aesthetic" that bridges "generational and genre gaps between black music’s multitudes".[5]
Track listing
editAll music composed by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge.
- "Black Beacon" – 4:00
- "Mare" (lyrics by Ladybug Mecca) – 1:06
- "It’s You" (lyrics by Raphael Saadiq) – 4:56
- "Questions" (lyrics by CeeLo Green) – 3:27
- "So Amazing" (lyrics by Luther Vandross) – 4:13
- "Gate 54" – 4:04
- "Do It Together" (lyrics by Bilal) – 3:09
- "Redneph in B Minor" – 2:48
- "Better Endeavor" – 2:48
- "Smiling for Me" (lyrics by Karolina) – 3:03
- "Don’t Keep Me Waiting" (lyrics by Marsha Ambrosius) – 3:18
- "Bitches Do Voodoo" (lyrics by Angela Munoz) – 0:54
- "Possibilities" (lyrics by Eryn Allen Kane) – 3:12
- "Mission" (lyrics by Marsha A.) – 2:56
- "Dans un moment d’errance" (lyrics by Laetitia Saidier) – 3:03
- "Love Is Free" (lyrics by Eryn Allen Kane) – 2:44
- "Together Again" – 3:21
- "Feel Alive" (lyrics by Karolina and Loren Oden) – 2:57
- "There Is No Greater Love" (lyrics by Loren Oden and Saudia Yasmein) – 2:19
- "Ravens" – 2:24
Deluxe Edition bonus disc
- "Mare" (instrumental) – 1:06
- "It’s You" (instrumental) – 4:56
- "Questions" (instrumental) – 3:23
- "So Amazing" (instrumental) – 4:13
- "Do It Together" (instrumental) – 3:09
- "Smiling for Me" (instrumental) – 3:03
- "Don’t Keep Me Waiting" (instrumental) – 3:18
- "Bitches Do Voodoo" (instrumental) – 0:54
- "Possibilities" (instrumental) – 3:12
- "Dans un moment d’errance" (instrumental) – 3:03
- "Love Is Free" (instrumental) – 2:44
- "Feel Alive" (instrumental) – 2:57
- "There Is No Greater Love" (instrumental) – 2:19
Personnel
edit"Black Beacon"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – grand piano, electric bass, vibraphone, flutes, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, sopranino saxophone, timpani, drums, percussion, recording mixing, production
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
"Maré"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – upright piano, electric bass, vibraphone, alto saxophone, drums, percussion
- Ladybug Mecca – vocals
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Loren Oden – backing vocals
- Saudia Yasmein – backing vocals
"It’s You"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, percussion, bass clarinet, sopranino saxophone, alto saxophone, drums
- Raphael Saadiq – electric guitar, vocals
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
"Questions"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond organ, upright piano, percussion, flute, vibraphone
- CeeLo Green – vocals
- David Henderson – drums
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Jack Waterson – acoustic guitar
"So Amazing"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Wurlitzer electric piano, electric bass, electric guitar, tubular bells, carillon, celeste, alto saxophone, sopranino saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flutes
- David Henderson – drums, percussion
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Luther Vandross – vocals
"Gate 54"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – grand piano, fender rhodes piano, electric bass, drums
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
"Do It Together"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, electric guitar, vibraphone, flutes, alto, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
- Bilal – vocals, backing vocals
- David Henderson – drums
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Saudia Yasmein – backing vocals
"Redneph in B-Minor"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, tubular chimes, electric guitar, vibraphone, drums, percussion
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
"Better Endeavor"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond organ, electric guitar, electric bass, vibraphone, drums, percussion
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Jack Waterson – Guitar
"Smiling for Me"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, Hammond organ, analog synthesizer, flutes, alto saxophone
- David Henderson – drums
- Karolina – vocals
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Jack Waterson – acoustic guitar
"Don’t Keep Me Waiting"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, electric guitar, vibraphone, drums
- Marsha Ambrosius – vocals
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
"Bitches Do Voodoo"
- Adrian Younge – grand piano
- Angela Munoz – vocals
"Possibilities"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, upright piano, electric bass, electric guitar, alto & baritone saxophone, minichime, drums, percussion.
- Eryn Allen Kane – vocals
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
"Mission"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, electric guitar, carillon, percussion, analog synthesizers, alto & baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute
- David Henderson – drums
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Marsha A. – vocals
"Dans un moment d’errance"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond organ, electric bass, analog synthesizer, flutes, alto saxophone
- Keyon Harrold – trumpet
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Questlove – drums
- Laetitia Saidier – vocals
- Jack Waterson – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
"Love Is Free"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, electric bass, electric guitars, alto saxophone, drums
- Eryn Allen Kane – vocals
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
"Together Again"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – electric bass, electric guitar, carillon, alto, baritone & sopranino saxophone, drums
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- No ID – percussion
- James Poyser – Fender Rhodes piano
"Feel Alive"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – Fender Rhodes piano, upright piano, Hammond organ, glockenspiel, electric bass, electric guitar, flute, bass flute, alto & baritone saxophone, drums, selene
- Karolina – vocals
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Loren Oden – vocals
"There Is No Greater Love"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – upright piano, electric bass, vibraphone, drums, percussion
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
- Loren Oden – vocals
- Saudia Yasmein – vocals
"Ravens"
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – upright piano, Hammond organ, clavinet, drums, electric bass, electric guitar
- Linear Labs Orchestra – orchestrated by Adrian Younge, conducted by Brooke DeRosa
Technical personnel
- The Artform Studio – photography
- Alice Butts – design
- Dave Cooley – mastering atElysian Masters
- Andrew Lojero – executive production
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Kellman, Andy (n.d.). "Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – The Midnight Hour". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ "Favorite R&B Albums". AllMusic 2018 in Review. AllMusic. RhythmOne. n.d. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ "AllMusic Best of 2018". AllMusic 2018 in Review. AllMusic. RhythmOne. n.d. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ Bauer, Matt (June 6, 2018). "Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge The Midnight Hour". Exclaim!. ISSN 1207-6600. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ Josephs, Brian (June 4, 2018). "Ali Shaheed Muhammad / Adrian Younge: The Midnight Hour Album Review". Albums. RhythmOne. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
External links
edit- The Midnight Hour at Discogs (list of releases)
- The Midnight Hour at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- A set for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series