On the appropriately titled On a Columbo Tip, Mike-L highlights what delightful sonic treats a modern-day Atlantic explorer can compile with only a sampler—and without getting his feet wet.

Sonic brilliance grown from the confines of a comfy sofa and unlimited imagination, this is for those who love their hip hop straight up instrumental with a great dollop of jazz breaks, off-beat soul and trip-hop funk. Mike’s been with his label, the dope First Word Records since its inception, winning over fans with his dusty-grooved hip-hop and funk production. And now he’s done did it again with dustier drums, cunning scratches, soulful samples, funny cut and paste commentary and an infallible groove selection—making an all-round release you just let play.

Upbeat ‘Sing that’ has a lovely soulful groove to it while pensive ‘Shimmer’ echoingly differs in style and pace. Its electric guitar strums while a deep drum and snare dances to a simple uplifting xylophone. ‘The Word For this is Cool‘ pays homage to the possibilities jazz has exhaustedly offered the hip-hop producer while the big drums and mellow piano loops on ‘Electric Peanuts For Robot Monkeys’ prepare you for a astronomical journey into space. The list of highlights could continue but you’ll just have to purchase.

The interludes here are just as quirky too. Not often is much thought given to these page-breakers in music reviews but here Mike has cleverly used them to switch up the pace with intelligence and chuckling humour. It’s again this attention to detail for the small strings of glue joining each track that make this a super cool find.

Yep, this is nerdy musical goodness that fans of Ghost, Mr Thing, RJD2, and even Madlib or DJ Shadow will find warmth in.

Words Ali Raymond
Buy On A Columbo Tip