El Michels Affair : 24 Hr Sports
When Quincy Jones passed away last year, we lost not only a master producer, composer and entertainment titan who revolutionized culture through 20th Century music, but a highly respected veteran in the studio. He recorded a wide range of artists, all of whom adhered to his guiding principle: Check your ego at the door. This approach allowed him to bring out the best in legendary talents such as Michael Jackson, The Brothers Johnson, top session musicians, and some of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century, including Patti Austin and Chaka Khan. In return, everyone who had the opportunity to record with him knew that he always aimed to showcase their best performance. Respect flows in both directions—Q. knew that, and laid out the model that other super producers such as Linda Perry, Rick Rubin, Pharrell, and Nile Rodgers would follow in their own pursuits of pulling the best out from artists from all corners of the music world.
Leon Michels, who records under the name El Michels Affair, has built such a brand as a super producer behind the boards that when you you see his name in the credits on something that means the project is protected. Certified—he’s Jake from State Farm. Jazz, folk, country twang, hip-hop, soul, and recently world music with that psychedelic ’70s Anatolian touch too. He’s created one of the most distinctive discographies as a producer in the 21st century so far. Just this past week, he released a sparkling pop gem titled “Daisy,” in collaboration with Melody’s Echo Chamber. The plucky, raw and melodic track features ’60s-style drum fills, an appealing brand of guitar playing, some would say noodling, that complements French musician Melody Prochet’s delicate and ethereal phrasing.
As expected, an elevated production value. But Black Thought has a better definition. “For me, everything Leon does is soulful,” stated the Top Five Emcee (in my book). In 2023 Michel constructed a sparse, minimal sample backdrop—think Willie Mitchell of Hi Records and his simplest charts he wrote for classic Al Green records—for the critically underrated hip-hop project Glorious Game where the 50-plus-year-old emcee declared his Hemingway phase. As for Michel’s studio prowess, Black Thought punched it out simple: “Soulful people are gonna do soulful shit.”
With 24 Hr Sports, El Michels Affair pulls all his strengths, favors and wisdom together for a wide-ranging crate digging record that feels Quincy Jones-ian in spirit. He’s been vocal about how he’s celebrating the inventiveness of MF DOOM‘s Special Herbs series, channeling some break-all-the-rules inspiration, conjuring up a library music mixtape with an all-star line up of vocalists and musicians that, if Quincy Jones was still around, he’d be more than motivated to take into the studio. There’s a physical media tactile inspiration working here too, ‘80s Sports Illustrated magazines, “the graphic design, the look, the pictures, and the way people dressed,” add to a blunt vividness that bleeds through in the interludes, from his sample source material, which was a lot of ‘70s fusion and Brazilian records.
Listen between the beloved chuggyness of “Say Goodbye” (feat. Florence Adooni), a direct correlation sonically to that Sylvia Striplin joint, slowed down, jumping between Frafra and English, reminding her man, side piece or somebody just catching strays, “never gonna find a girl like me.” It feels so classic New York City mixtape material that it should have been featured in the Subway segments of the new Spike Lee joint Highest 2 Lowest. Yes beloved, it hits like that.
Up next we sail into library music vibes from world-renowned trumpeter Dave Guy from The Roots, as he joins the AM radio ‘70s groove of “Oakley’s Car Wash” before the track shifts into dubby waters and does a Carole King about face with “Anticipate,” featuring Clairo, that plays mellow golden hour with a surprising earnestness. Next up is a ballad instrumental with doo-wop backing vocals and yesteryear moonglows called “Eastside,” and you are immediately reminded that this type of an album was attempted by Mndsgn in 2021 with his breakthrough Rare Pleasure. Michels just has a bit more experience working effectively with so many different types of musicians. The Grammy-winning duo of Norah Jones and Michels spreads its magic again on “Carry Me Away,” doing that thing only Michael can do with Jones, capturing the musician jamming with her voice, so it’s not perfect, but it’s right. Peeling back a layer of Jones that many fail to see, but one that Michels has always identified.
“Take My Hand” emphasizes a gospel influence with the Fabulous Rainbow Singers choir, intense drum fills once again, and a saxophone solo from the late great Rahsaan Roland Kirk that recalls his Atlantic record days. 24 Hr Sports has it all.
Label: Big Crown
Year: 2025
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El Michels Affair : 24 Hr Sports
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