Jeff Mills returns under his Millsart alias with a stunning 4 track EP: Star Child
The 6th chapter in his more recently founded Axis Expressionist Series, Jeff Mills conjures up this absolutely stunning 4 track ‘Stat Child’ EP under his Millsart alias. One his most transcendent and astonishingly accomplished pieces of compositions in more recent years, this latest missive really is something quite special.
Deriving from his ‘Every Dog Has Its Day’ project, as well as new unreleased works. Mills fully evokes the spirit and essence of the Afro-futurist cannon citing:
”The relationship between our star, the source that gives us life and the land we occupy during this transcendental process is one of sensitivity and compassion. Topography and rock settlements are positioned as conductive posts of energy.
An energy line wrapping around a planet that straddles between the past, the present and the future. And on this land, exists an engineered string of energy called the 37th Parallel. Time Travel, multi-dimensional activity, healing, spiritual transition and rejuvenations in the supernatural respect and other powers we’ve yet to discover and realize”.
It suffices to say there’s little to argue and much to ponder when you make music like this. The Detroit techno pioneer offers up 4 full excursions into the rich stratification of the cosmos that truly resonate with a universal ambience. Starting the journey on the A Side with ‘Theme From Star Child’, a lush evolving soundscape replete with rich cyclical piano chords and glowing synths, all perfectly set to a mid-tempo beat. The track gently grows in stature, flowing with effortless grace and an enchanting energy. Followed by ‘Satori’ in some contrast, Mills takes a more percussive and classically discordant approach, injecting a scintillating mixture of hi-hats and organic percussion that shimmies to and fro over structured machine beat programming.
On the flipside, ‘Love Warrior’ shifts into the broken beat territory more akin to his work with Tony Allen. Leading with rising organs and sustained chords that burn brightly as the Corona itself, the seductive percussive swing propels you further into his orbit. Last but not least is the hypnotic roll of ‘Starlight Trance Dancer’, a subtle yet equally powerful piano led groove that seemingly levitates in the folds of time and space. This slice of futuristic soul round off the EP in perfect pose and demonstrates that even the greats can surpass themselves when the stars align.
