'Psychedelic and Funky' Mildlife, Phase: What More Could You Want?

It's time to reflect on Mildlife, a psychedelic jazz fusion group based in Melbourne. I'm admittedly late to the party for my review of their debut album, Phase, released in 2017. However, I always return to the group's '70s style riffs and complex syncopation.

The group's formation and beginnings are hazy, originating sometime during 2010; however, the entourage has, according to Whiteboard Journal, been playing together since high school. They cite their inspirations as a combination of "Pink Floyd, Certain areas of Pink, Led Zeppelin," describing the early influences as "the classic music that your dad makes you listen to and disowns you if you don't listen to it."  

The Inspiration is clear when listening to their debut album, Phase. The album starts with -in my opinion- its standout track "The Marvelous Moon". The song's nostaligc arpegios and funky basslines transport you back to the era of shag carpets, Disco, and leisure suits. This isn't saying the track isn't without its nuance; the backing synths provide a floating syncopation that surrounds your head with a slow-burning ecstasy, making you want more despite its nearly nine-minute runtime.  

The following tracks, "Zwango Zop" and "Im Blau," transition seamlessly from one to the other. In "Zwango Zop," a breathy vocal line and a punctuating bassline transport the listener into a burst of funky fever, eventually slowing down with "Im Blau. "Which features robotic voice lines and psychedelic synths transporting the listener to a lazy river, ending with an ethereal buzz.  

"Phase," the track with the album's namesake, starts with the tinkling of a legendary jazz progression; the playful staccato chords, faintly reminiscent of Miles Davis's "So What?" Coincidence or not? I'll leave it up to you. The track continues with a wandering synth line bending in and out of faint drums with lazy precision, meandering in and out of the track with simultaneous purpose and indirection.  

Photo by: Garrin Faturrahman

Phase, Mildlife's debut album, was a refreshing homage to the influences of the '70s. The band's psychedelic and funky style permeates the album extensively, but never sounds pretentious, incorporating jazz and fusion elements in a refreshing genre-bending approach. The album sounds like an ongoing song, with each track blending seamlessly into the next, forming a blissful loop that keeps you coming back for more.

Rating: 7/10   

By Mac Hebebrand · Originally published on Snapback.blog

Mildlife – Phase (2017)Genre: Jazz-Funk / Psychedelic FusionLabel: Research Records

Mildlife – Phase (2017) Genre: Jazz-Funk / Psychedelic Fusion Label: Research Records

1. The Magnificent Moon – 8:51

2. Zwango Zop – 5:20

3. Im Blau – 8:53

4. Phase – 4:51

5. Two Horizons – 7:33

6. The Gloves Don’t Bite – 4:39

Total length: 40:07