Denver-based producer Manic Focus has lengthy been revered for his soulful fusion of funk, hip-hop, and digital music. Throughout the previous decade, the skilled magician and seasoned digital music veteran has enchanted followers along with his kaleidoscopic sound — deftly melding electronica, funk, soul, and new-era hip-hop to create his infectious signature groove. Now, Manic Focus enters a brand new period along with his tenth studio album, Different Facet of Paradise, out as we speak.
A end result of years spent refining his craft, Different Facet of Paradise showcases Manic Focus’ potential to push the boundaries of his personal sonic id whereas honoring the roots that constructed it. The 15-track LP bridges funky trip-hop rhythms, blues-inflected melodies, and futuristic bass design into one cohesive journey. As Johnny “JmaC” McCarten (Manic Focus) describes it, “I needed to showcase the breadth of the MF venture from its inception as a breakbeat bass act to a broader funky venture with a powerful basis in classical and blues components. From entrance to again it’s a journey, however every tune I firmly imagine stands by itself.”
Followers have already gotten a primary take a look at Different Facet of Paradise via standout singles “Lay Me Down,” “River Street,” “Flight College,” “Bag,” and “In The Darkish,” every one revealing a distinct layer of the album’s emotional and stylistic depth.
The venture contains a stellar lineup of collaborators together with Phyphr, Borahm Lee (Fairly Lights, Break Science), Megan Hamilton, and Marvel Years, every contributing their very own vitality and texture to the file’s expansive soundscape.
The album opens with “Sweet Apple,” a lush, melodic midtempo lower that fuses funky trip-hop grooves with ethereal vocals and surging basslines. “Definition Of Unwell” follows, diving into chill, downtempo hip-hop with glitched-out, angelic vocal textures. From there, the listener is pulled into “In The Darkish,” a fever-dream bass anthem marked by fearless vocals that ring out via a swirl of distorted synths and deep sub-bass — an exhilarating descent into the thoughts’s nocturnal corners.
“Posted On The Block” (feat. Phyphr) continues the journey with spacey hip-hop vitality and funky midtempo bass, whereas “Let Up Waves” (feat. Borahm Lee) showcases the flexibility of the album because it takes a pointy left flip into deep progressive home territory — a wavy, club-ready observe outlined by spacey synths and atmospheric manufacturing.
Throughout the album, Manic Focus’ bluesy and soulful influences shine. “River Street” and “Hey Growth Growth” mix natural trip-hop and digital manufacturing with twangy blues riffs and feel-good lyrical mantras, “kill ‘em softly with kindness and gratitude.” In the meantime, “In My Coronary heart” and “Sufficient” (feat. Megan Hamilton) tug on the heartstrings — the previous a glowing, upbeat self-love tune that blurs home and midtempo, and the latter a sweeping emotional lower about vulnerability and self-worth.
The LP crescendos with “You Are My Sunshine” (feat. Marvel Years) — a contemporary electronica reimagining of the basic tune, constructed round Marvel Years’ guitar-driven melodies and faraway vocal refrains. It’s a placing nearer that completely encapsulates Manic Focus’ genre-fluid artistry.
“Over the previous two years I’ve tried to provide you with a extra strong definition of the sound of Manic Focus, however I typically discover myself exploring an increasing number of the big musical panorama earlier than us and may’t cease experimenting with varied synth components and genres. I’ve all the time leaned extra on the manufacturing aspect than the DJ aspect, however this album has a variety of good combine in/out factors for DJs desirous to showcase the MF fashion. I hope you get pleasure from it. A lot love!” –John “JmaC” McCarten
Followers will be capable of hear the brand new album at Manic Focus’ remaining three exhibits of the 12 months, together with dates in Lincoln, NE and Iowa Metropolis, IA with The Widdler on November 14th and fifteenth, adopted by a Dallas, TX efficiency with Vincent Antone on December fifth.
With Different Facet of Paradise, Manic Focus as soon as once more proves why he stays one of the crucial compelling voices in fashionable digital music — an artist unafraid to evolve, experiment, and invite listeners to expertise the total spectrum of sound, emotion, and groove.
