(Are You In There)

Well, this is a first for me. The first remix album I’ve been able to cover, but when I read the premise for the EP, you know I had to check it out: Mac Miller X Japanese Samples? Yes, please!

So, 6 remix tracks: 

-One Life

-And Let Go

-Be In This Moment

-Corny As Nebraska 

-Universal Energy

-Are You In There

And of course, let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. The vocal performances are, of course, brilliant; it’s Mac Miller. One of the greatest MC’s of the modern day, and so yes, across the 6, he doesn’t miss; it’s always a sentimental moment to hear him rap again, and his energy, passion, aura— they just don’t match anyone else I’ve heard. So yes, if you’re a Mac Miller fan, then of course, these verses are elite as you should come to expect.

What the real question here is ‘how is the production’? And honestly, I dig these remixes. Gold Matter himself always provides masterclasses in how to perfectly execute some of the best production you could hear, and for this, I hear a combination of, as stated, Japanese style influences, and the rest are more a mix of Lo-Fi and Classic Soul! Similar to some of the sounds you’d hear on ‘Divine Feminine’ with those smooth, crisp, and ambient arrangements. 

I think no track matches this energy better than ‘Corny as Nebraska,’ but across the board, each track has its own beautifully orchestrated scores utilising those gorgeous keys, vocal loop samples, and modernised hip-hop production to create another perfect Mac Miller posthumous release.

For a 12-minute EP, this thing warms my heart and rests my mind at the same time. To be able to hear Mac again and in such a respectful and loving manner of these masterful production remixes makes me happy to know that he left such an impact on the culture that legends from all over come to pay their respects by doing projects as extraordinary as this. Please check this one out!

https://open.spotify.com/album/6hdO71IIebLF7yCJ1fz0sS?si=YQQB9fCvRcGUTn9A_avRkA