One of the most creative, compelling, and consistent producers working today, Dan “The Automator” Nakamura has made a point of always keeping it fresh. His ever-evolving sonic forays have earned props both inside and outside of the traditional hip-hop spectrum, and he rarely disappoints listeners looking for something innovative and fresh. In the past five years alone, he’s been responsible for a slew of impressive, critically acclaimed material, including the infamous Dr. Octagon record, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Deltron 3030, and Gorillaz. On his most recent project, he makes an album strictly for the lovers, assembling a smoothed-out super-crew that includes Mike Patton and Jennifer Charles on vocals, Kid Koala on the cut, and assorted all-stars like Afrika Bambaataa and Prince Paul.
Devoid of any straightforward rapping, this is basically an LP full of love songs with dreamy vocals set to lush production and soothing live instrumentation. Silky strings, delicate acoustic guitars, soft pianos, and mellow percussion dominate most of the tracks, along with weird flutes, French horns, and quirky synths creeping up in the mix. Koala shines on the DJ-centric tracks “Everyone Has a Summer” and “Koala’s Lament.” Like Dan’s other work, there is also a subtle but bugged-out sense of humor throughout.
Instantly likeable and extremely listenable, Music is further proof of the Automator’s beat-making prowess and “do your own thing” mentality. Whether he’s making music for random cartoon characters, psychotic gynecologists, or romantic rendezvous, he always delivers the goods.
