Things Are Happening, by XL Middleton

Things Are Happening

by XL Middleton

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Robert J Kline ANOTHER AWESOME RELEASE FROM MOFUNKRECORDS! THANKYOU FOR KEEPING THIS MUSIC GOING! ????! Favorite track: Paradise Of Pavement (feat. Zackey Force Funk).

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LP w/ artwork designed by Brandon Mahlberg.

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CD digipak w/ artwork designed by Brandon Mahlberg. Also includes bonus track "You're So Different" not available on LP or digital.

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Full Digital Discography Full Digital Discography

51

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Get all 51 MoFunk Records releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of I Can't Believe It / Get It Together, G-Funk Vibes Vol. 3, Chrome Springs Eternal, On Repeat, Hate To See It, Like We Used To Do (feat. I, Ced & Moniquea), Who Is That Girl (XL Middleton Remix), Pink Silhouettes, and 43 more. , and , .

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1.	Never Have Too Many Freaks 04:25	buy track
2.	Look Who's Talkin' 04:28	buy track
3.	Ice Level 02:03	buy track
4.	Purple Sheets 03:52	buy track
5.	Paradise Of Pavement (feat. Zackey Force Funk) 04:37	buy track
6.	Better Friend (feat. Moniquea) 04:49	buy track
7.	Prelude To The Invasion 01:10	buy track
8.	Enjoy The Ride 04:33	buy track
9.	Gotta Let You Go 04:46	buy track
10.	They Don't Wanna Leave Me 04:21	buy track

about

Things are happening. It's a perpetual truth and something of a mysterious, even ominous, sentiment as it applies to XL Middleton's follow up to "Tap Water." Fittingly, the content of "Things Are Happening" strays down darker or more cynical paths than its predecessor, and in doing so takes the modern funk ethos as a whole beyond tried and true formulas such as love songs or spiritual anthems. The grooves remain uptempo; the synth work is still warm and percussive. But, there's a heavier story to tell, and greater truths to face.

The album opens with the uptempo, lowrider-ready "Never Have Too Many Freaks." Upon first glance it's a hedonistic ode to maintaining multitudes of willing women for carnal conquest, but further listens reveal the story of a man in search of love, let down too many times and thus led away from the pursuit of romance. "Look Who's Talkin'" details the strenous nature of socializing as an introvert, with tongue-in-cheek lyrics seated atop a warbly electro-funk instrumental. This theme is explored again, in a more introspective fashion, on the album's closer, "They Don't Wanna Leave." On "Better Friend" (feat. Moniquea), XL plays witness to those who would invade social circles for personal gain - an all too common sight in the music business, perhaps foreshadowing a future hip hop album by dropping a few bars before the song sizzles to a close. Him and Zackey Force Funk team up on "Paradise Of Pavement," an anthem for the highs and lows of living in LA, framed by cosmic chords and grinding synth bass tones. "Purple Sheets" resonates with a slow Linn drum bounce as XL's vocoder finally offers a moment of unbridled love/lust, adding a dimension to the album more akin to "Tap Water" than anything else on the project.

Some might argue that the internalized nature of "Things Are Happening" is badly timed, with the hyper-politicized environment we are now living in almost demanding social commentary in art above all else. However, this album is a reminder that, no matter who our leaders are or what global woes we are facing, we also exist outside of the collective mind and have our own individual stories to tell.

credits

released October 6, 2017

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MoFunk Records Los Angeles, California

Label from Los Angeles serving up modern funk music and more.

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