Music
10 of the best Flying Lotus collaborations
With new album 'Flamagra' recently hitting the shelves, we look back on the maverick musician's best collaborations over the years
He is undoubtedly one of the most innovative musicians of modern era - not least because he has his fingers in so many pies that it's hard to keep count. With Red Bull Music Academy alumnus Steven Ellison aka Flying Lotus recently releasing his sixth studio album (and possibly most collaborative to date) 'Flamagra', now's a good a time as any to take a look at the best of the musician, filmmaker and visual artist's creative partnerships to date.
1. 'Never Catch Me' (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Ellison earned a production credit on Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' album, but the pair's first proper collaboration was this track on FlyLo's 2014 album (and arguably his best) 'You're Dead'. Their styles work together superbly, too; we'd go as far as to say that this is one of the best FlyLo compositions to date.
2. 'Land of Honey' (feat. Solange)
It says a lot about Ellison's pull as a musical creator – not to mention his diversity - that songs featuring everyone from David Lynch to George Clinton to Little Dragon can sit side by side on the same album. Solange adds her dreamy vocals to the psychedelic soul of this 'Flamagra' album highlight.
3. 'MmmHmm' (feat. Thundercat)
These old friends have worked together on many occasions and bassist Thundercat is a regular feature on any Flying Lotus record. This is undoubtedly one of their best, most deliciously weird creations, taken from 2010's 'Cosmogramma'.
4. 'Electric Candyman' (feat. Thom Yorke)
This track marked the second FlyLo collaboration with the Radiohead frontman, following 'Cosmogramma' track '... And the World Laughs With You'. It's every bit as weird, off-kilter and atmospheric as that pairing might suggest on paper.
5. 'See Thru to U' (fear. Erykah Badu)
Nu-soul queen Badu joined forces with Ellison on his fourth album 'Until the Quiet Comes', and her intoxicating voice proved a perfect match for its entrancing, free jazz-style rhythmic cacophony.
6. 'More' (feat. Anderson .Paak)
We never knew how much we needed a FlyLo/Anderson .Paak collab until we heard this song. The weirdness may be reigned in to an extent on this 'Flamagra' number, but .Paak nails that distinct singing/rapping style that has brought him such plaudits in recent times. The video also sees another notable collaboration, as it was directed by anime titan Shinichiro Watanabe of 'Cowboy Bebop' fame – a man whose work Ellison said had 'changed [his] life.'
7. 'Moment of Hesitation' (feat. Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington)
Jazz great Herbie Hancock co-wrote two tracks on 'You're Dead'; this one also happens to feature Kamasi Washington, making for a unholy trinity of talent that will blow your tiny mind. Just imagine what a full FlyLo/Hancock album would sound like?
8. 'Dead Man's Tetris' (feat. Captain Murphy and Snoop Dogg)
Flying Lotus fans will already be aware that Captain Murphy is the rap pseudonym of Ellison himself. He brought Snoop Dogg on board and also sampled Queen and retro video games on this brilliantly trippy hip-hop track.
9. 'Fire is Coming' (feat. David Lynch)
If you've seen Ellison's feature film 'Kuso' – or indeed, any of his visual art over the years – then this collaboration with David Lynch will make a lot more sense. The director's spoken word turn on the lead single from 2019's 'Flamagra' undoubtedly set the tone for the album.
10. 'Siren Song' (feat. Angel Deradoorian)
It's safe to say that Ellison is a musician who surrounds himself with unconventional artists, and Angel Deradoorian perfectly fit that bill on this track from 'You're Dead'. The former Dirty Projectors vocalist's breathy intonations are an integral part of this woozy jumble of sounds.
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