Leeds-based Jazz/Hip-Hop Big Band Abstract Orchestra Returns with Villainous MADVILLAIN VOL. 2 Re-works Collection (ATA Records)

Abstract Orchestra (AO) are a Leeds, UK-based Jazz/Big Band that, much like El Michels Affair & Brownout/Brown Sabbath, often plays Jazz renditions of popular Hip-Hop compositions. Their current line-up plays out a little something like this - Conductor/Music Director: Rob Mitchell, Saxes: Rob Mitchell, Jim Corry, James Russell, Dan Brunskill & Simon Kaylor, Trumpets: Malcolm Strachan, Jack Davis & Simon Beddoe, Trombones: Kevin "Kev" Holbrough, Danny Barley, Patrick Martin & Chris Hibard, Bass: Chris "Fatty" Hargreaves, Keys: George Cooper, Drums: Joost Hendrickx, and Vox/Vocals: Anna Uluru & Akin Amusan. AO's past incarnations—seemingly, always led by The Haggis Horns' Rob Mitchell—have performed live sets with the likes of Slum Village, De La Soul, and Yasiin Bey FKA Mos Def; with past releases including 2017's critically-acclaimed DILLA and 2018's "New Day" 7-inch/digital single Featuring Illa J. Now, Abstract Orchestra have, once again, joined forces with Leeds-based ATA Records to present their second collection of MADVILLAIN (Madlib & MF DOOM) reinterpretations, fittingly titled MADVILLAIN VOL. 2.


Much like its similarly-named predecessor, MADVILLAIN VOL. 1, VOL. 2 features a collection of newly re-worked compositions, both recognizable and deep cuts, from 2004's beloved MADVILLAINY, as well as MADVILLAINY 2: The Madlib Remix. Plus, a few "Madmixes" & "Mashups" stylistically strewn throughout the course of this enthralling 13-track journey through the mind of The Metal Face Villain himself, Daniel "DOOM" Dumile. As a bit of an added bonus, MADVILLAIN VOL. 2 features a special 100% Ghostly/Gas Drawls-sanctioned re-work of oft-remixed "Air" from Two/Three generously billed as "Abstract Orchestra, Dabrye, MF DOOM - "Air" Feat. MF DOOM (Abstract Orchestra Remix.) It appears as though ATA Records' Bandcamp page features a quasi-album breakdown, which, I would assume is, penned by Abstract Orchestra themselves. Stay tuned to this space in the coming weeks, as we're soon planning to conduct and publish a comprehensive interview with AO MD/Conductor, Rob Mitchell. For now, though, Abstract Orchestra's MADVILLAIN VOL. 2 is currently available to stream or purchase in a multitude of formats directly from ATA Records.