Ill health… Pretty ugly…. Sad smile…
Neat contradictions run rife in life. But few are as exciting as Moody Good. The new project from Eddie Jefferys (previously of 16 Bit fame), Moody Good is actually in great health… Although some of his stunningly contrasted sounds are pretty ugly and will indeed conjure sad smiles from time to time. In the best possible way, of course.
He’s about to drop his debut album on MTA. Surpassing his previous sonic conquests with stark originality and exciting freshness, early fruits of this unique opus are the deep n’ delicate Musicbx with Eryn Allen Kane and this masterfully dark hip-hop/bass hybrid with fellow MTA and Chase & Status collaborator Knytro…
Currently residing in Chicago, we called Moody Good up to ask if the forthcoming album is the LP he’s always wanted to write…
“Yeah it is,” he considers after a pause. “Some tracks were finished right towards the end of the process. Other bits started during the end of 16 Bit. It’s definitely the album I’ve been wanting to do but it couldn’t quite happen. It’s been important to give myself time and space for it to build.”
Investments in time and space have paid off: the entire album is rich in uncategorisable future-frazzled sonics and loaded with talented vocal contributors. The smoky soul of Harleighblu, the dreamy dulcets of YADi, the savage spits of MC Big Narstie…
“I’m following Big Narstie closely,” Eddie explains. “I was really pleased to get him on the album. He’s unsigned but he’s got so much exposure. Such a talent.”
My trouble is I consume so much music but I’m terrible at remembering names. How it sounds is much more important to me.
As the conversation unfolds, Eddie’s keen to list other artist he’s been following, digesting and celebrating. The album, for instance, contains three crackling, dusty ballroom eulogies – each one dedicated to an artist known as The Caretaker
“I’m a huge fan of his,” says Eddie. “He makes music under different names but the caretaker alias is this mangled ballroom swing music. It’s music from the past, ghostly and otherworldly. I’d been playing around with my own versions but I wanted to do a tip of the hat.”
Hat officially tipped, Eddie went on to explain how his new Spotify Premium account has led him to diverse albums such as a compilation called Roots Of Drone. And he can’t get enough of the debut from fellow early-bass luminaries Akkord.
“Another guy I’m feeling right now is Brrd,” continues the man who uploaded this incredible mix onto his Soundcloud page last month. “He’s making some really cool sounding stuff. It’s a bit downbeat, really sampled based and really fucking cool. I could go on and on… My trouble is I consume so much music but I’m terrible at remembering names. How it sounds is much more important to me.”
Back to Moody Good and the sound of his album is important to UKF. While it showcases Eddie on an entirely new level, those fond of his trademark darkness won’t be disappointed thanks to the above previewed Hotplate and stuttering, sizzling cuts like Docbond.
“I don’t know why I make dark heavy stuff but I do,” he grins. “I love it. I made Docbond a while ago. At least a year ago. I felt the album would benefit from some hardness and this works well. Where does my soul sit naturally? Right in between the dark and light. I really do love it all.”
And that’s why we love Moody Good. To finish with more neat contradiction, Eddie stands all alone right now. Watch out for his self titled album on April 7… A sure-fire new classic.
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