"A spoken-word intro by actor Giancarlo Esposito primes you for something heavy, but you are instantly reminded, of course, that this is a De La Soul album: it seems practically impossible that their brand of lackadaisical, perpetually sunny plunderphonics could ever feel like a drag. The lush strings of Yuhdontstop introduce an album that's always projected in full-saturation Technicolor: from the effervescent Natalie Cole sample on Will Be to Maseo's"
"For the most part, the afterlife theme seems to have been tacked on, likely after Trugoy's death; the album still features his vocals, and most of the songs on the album fit squarely in De La Soul's already established surrealist world. (Patty Cake, a minimalist highlight, reinterprets classic schoolyard chants, a conceit that somehow hasn't already been done on a De La Soul record.)"
Cabin in the Sky functions as a loose concept album about death and the afterlife, shaped in part by Trugoy the Dove's passing. A spoken-word intro by Giancarlo Esposito opens the record and the music remains rooted in De La Soul's sunny, sample-forward plunderphonics with lush strings and bright textures. Highlights include a Natalie Cole sample on "Will Be," Maseo's avuncular ad-libs on "Cruel Summers Bring Fire Life!!," and the minimalist "Patty Cake" reworking schoolyard chants. The album runs over 70 minutes and can feel like a slog toward the end. The title track offers a pensive, world-weary tribute to lost friends while preserving a sense of magic.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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