It's been over three years since abstract hip-hop veteran El-P dropped his second full-length LP "I'll Sleep When You're Dead", and it still looks like fans will have to wait a little bit longer until he releases a true follow-up. Right now, though, we get the "weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3", an instrumental album which demonstrates El's love for and synth-fiddling and production.
This mix is the third in a series which was previously only available in limited numbers at shows. This time around, El-P has decided to commercially release the third (and best) mix in the series. What's more, retail versions of the album come with a download code for "weareallgoingtoburninhell" and "weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixx2", so purchasing megamixxx3 effectively means you're getting the entire series, which is nothing to be sniffed at.
The first thing to note is that on this album, El steps away from the mic completely. The decision to leave his own vocal tracks off definitely works better here than it does on the other two megamixxxes. Previously, El's vocals popped up here and there, which often felt out of place - it almost felt like two different types of album were fighting against each other for your attention. With megamixxx3, though, the soundscapes have much more room to breathe. This record feels like a true, free-flowing song-cycle and a totally separate work of art.
El-P's twisted humour is apparent from the intro "Take You Out at the Ball Game", which gives way to "Whores: The Movie", an explosive and atmospheric banger that demands to be heard. Everything blends together perfectly on this album - it's crafted in order to carry you right through to the end with no hiccups along the way. The overall mood is similar to the one set on El-P's sublime debut album "Fantastic Damage". It's apocalyptic, fierce and funky, with odd sparks of sci-fi beauty and reflection (see: "Time Won't Tell). This album would almost be terrifying if it weren't for the straight-up ill beats. There's definitely a retro, mid-80s vibe on here too - El-P sounds like he's paying homage to the golden age of big beats. As well as the original tracks present on this mix, El-P has included a stripped version of "How to Serve Man", a joint that appeared on the fourth Definitive Jux compilation. There's also instrumental leftovers in the form of "I Got This" and "Driving Down the Block" - remixes he had been working on for other artists. These aren't intrusive at all and fit the bill well with their horn-blares, tightly programmed drums, synth-lines, bass-burrs, and whatever else.
"weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3" will not fully satisfy fans who are expecting a "true" El-P record - this is not the time for that. However, if you go in with the mindset that this is a different kind of project where El-P still leaves his mark, you'll find that it's another great addition to his vast portfolio. This doesn't just include his solo albums, but also his previous role in Company Flow, his soundtracks and his remix work. El-P is widely respected in hip-hop for a reason - his talent extends far beyond the mic. This is simply further proof that he can do no wrong.
"weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3" is out now on Gold Dust Media and includes a download code for the first two megamixxxes.
