Mndsgn - “Deviled Eggs”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 9

Pairs Well With…Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Lionmilk

Mndsgn’s latest record Snaxx is among the jazziest in the fusion artist’s catalog, an instrumental sample of beats twisted in psychedelic space and bubbling with chill-lounge funk. It’s not an area too dissimilar from the Californian’s deep, decade-long collection of solo records, collaborations, and mixtapes, but the dreamy vibes and slices of pop-soul that overlay Snaxx give the record extra appeal. It’s a little smoother and thicker too, finding some deep grooves even when most of the tracks duck out after less than two minutes. See the spacious, post-rock modernism of “Slappppp”, prog-like exploration in “Sumdim” or the chillwave echoes of “Papayaberry” for examples of Mndsgn stretching way beyond the jazzy-beats category. Mndsgn is an artist to be appreciated the deeper you go, a deceptively cooled musician who’s creating intricate and complex compositions with studied ease. A new 2020 Stones Throw record is due sometime soon, but Mndsgn just shared a new collection GONNA B OK on Bandcamp, self-described as “sum looses from the vault” including slow-jam groove “MIDNITELUV”, a treat to holdover in quarantine until we’re out the other side together. (Kevin McStravick)