With almost 25 years in the biz, Mark de Clive-Lowe remains high on our list of favorite artists for his killer collaborations, otherworldly compositions and consistently dope music overall. After a musical exploration of his roots with Heritage and Heritage II, and offering up the praiseworthy CHURCH Sessions, he's kept the good vibes going throughout the pandemic – joining forces with bassist Andrea Lombardini and drummer Tommaso Cappellato in 2020 for Dreamweavers, then linking up with GHOST (aka David Zylberman) for "Cosmic Ride" earlier this year. Now he brings more goodies for our playlist with his new EP Midnight Snacks, Vol. 1.
In describing the album, de Clive-Lowe explains, "Midnight Snacks are moments in time created in the dead of night - as the world sleeps, I get to imagine alternate realities. Through our imagination, we find new ideas and new possibilities, and share them in the hopes that we remind each other how things don’t have to be any one particular way. There’s always another perspective.”
The entire project was played, programmed and produced by the man himself; a fact not entirely surprising given his ridiculous set of skills. MdCL wastes no time grabbing our attention with four instrumental tracks of broken beat, house and downtempo grooves. He expresses solidarity and allyship with the Black community on "Joyful Resistance Part I." Inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests around the world, the track begins like a mournful dirge before a triumphal vibe takes over, infusing the track with a spirit of affirmation and empowerment.
Nimble fingers work the keys embellished by strings and synth throughout the vibrant track "Blue Hour," while the inescapable combo of Rhodes and fractured beats of "37,000 Feet" will give you a breathless high from nonstop dancing. The exuberant rhythms and joyful keys on "Thanks Given" have us expressing our sincerest gratitude for this feel-good collection of awesome tunes.
Right now, Midnight Snacks, Vol. 1 is only available for download via Bandcamp or Traxsource. You can also support MdCL and receive music and exclusive perks via Patreon.
