Review: "Black Floyd" Album by Boonie Mayfield
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A distinct sun-drenched neurosis informs Los Angeles based artist/producer/actor/filmmaker Boonie Mayfield’s luxurious “Black Floyd” album. Production glistens for the mastering is done with such care. With a seemingly timeless sound, Boonie combines the old and new into something quite distinctive. Easy to get lost in, the differentiation between every work has a considered quality to it. Yet, there is a similarity within the scope of the album that helps to bind the whole experience together.
On the crate-digging side of things, many of the elements incorporate some of Adrian Younge’s careful arrangements. To ensure that the tracks have an accessibility, the beats and melodies waft on through taking their time in fully unfurling. Nods to Anderson .Paak emerge throughout the entirety of the album as well, for each piece seems to feed int a much larger narrative.
By seemingly allowing these songs to come together to create these intersecting experiences, there is a communal presence. Additional little touches such as the reference to a tape starting up are rather fine, pointing to Boonie’s own background in audio design and are quite welcome.
“Intro (The Bigger Picture)” featuring Revanon sets the tone for what follows – a reflective stance. Quite inventive “Bootsy Collins (All Day)” brings together beatboxing and lyricism with a cleverness that is a joy to behold. Eerie cryptic wheezes take hold on “The Doubt Monster (Whenever I Go)”. Going for a slow-burn “Dream a Mile High” lets the tempos lean back as the graceful groove rolls through. Highly delicate “While Black (Red Light, Blue Light, E’s and R’s)” the drumming on here alongside the nimble piano work stuns, making it the highlight of the album.
Kept to the bare bone essentials “Bass’d on a Birdwatcher (Make It Better)” has a theatrical quality. Tremendous buildup gives “So Much Fire” a satisfying finale. Confrontational “The Self Made Era” has a raspy quality that makes it visceral. With “@Yourlife (Give It Something More)” has an intricate effect to it. Beats hit with a ferocity on “Upside Johead”. Going for a bit of the topical comes “Quarantine Love (You’re the Only One)”. An early 90s flair ties together “Whatchagonnadoo” right down to the perfect sense of swagger. Wrapping it all up comes the finale of “Outro (A Good Place)”, featuring Giane Morris Vaughn.
The “Black Floyd” album shows off the exquisite storytelling of Boonie Mayfield with a flawless flow that features a large amount of depth to it, incorporating details that make it truly feel truly lived.