David Axelrod
David Axelrod

Not only does he have one of the coolest names ever, David Axelrod has mad props from many in the music community. He was a music producer in the mid-sixties, working with such notable acts as The Grateful Dead, The Electric Prunes and Lou Rawls. David, like many in the music community, fell by the wayside and disappeared until his eclectic solo work was rediscovered by rap and dance acts. The peak of this resurgence was the major sample heard on Dr. Dre’s 2000 hit track “The Next Episode.” Enter Mo Wax staple DJ Shadow who tracked the man down and unearthed lost recordings that led to this current release.

David Axelrod’s jazz-rock fusion (don’t leave -- it’s much better than it sounds) is like a psychedelic film score from the late ‘60s. In fact, 7 of the 9 tracks on the album are taken from that period and reflect the era remarkably. But his sound also has many similarities with dance music, which, no doubt, has helped to build his myth and reputation for being way ahead of his time.

There are two new tracks on this CD: “The Little Children,” features a rap from Ras Kass. “The Loved Boy” has a vocal from old compadre Lou Rawls, which reeks of a man trying to dig himself out of a deep hole. These tracks unfortunately bookend the album and feel tagged on to give the album an artistic relevance that it simply doesn’t have.

His music has little emotional weight but is extremely atmospheric. This would have been a great EP release. Mo Wax has put a little spin on things with great packaging and their very hip label. So, if you want to have a little get together with a retro vibe, skip the first and last track and have fun. Check out mowax.comfor more details.
5 blips out 10