Sauce

Here’s another one we’ve all been waiting patiently for; The Beastie Boys’ instrumental album, The Mix-Up – and it’s a killer of an album. The Beasties’ musical roots were in punk and rock in the late 70s before moving to hip-hop in the early 80s, but throughout the later part of their career they’ve been picking up instruments again, and jamming out styles including funk and jazz for their live audiences. So it seems only natural for them to finally complete a full funk/jazz-based album, but who knew they’d do it without lyrics?

The album has a traditional, psychedelic 60s rock vibe to it, with some added lounge jazz and funky guitar licks. There are no obvious hip-hop elements to this album, but there are plenty of funk breakdowns, suave bass lines and old school conga grooves, giving you the idea that this is the kind of music that the Beastie Boys would have wanted to find in record crates in the mid 80s to take home and sample.

My favourite track on the album is Off The Grid, a slow funk jam with a feel reminiscent of early Sid Barratt and 60s carefree culture, matching phasing guitar riffs and strange organ chords. Another great effort from the boys, who have always had their fingers on what is the essence of musical genius.

RYAN FARRINGTON