DJ Shadow Takes an Ambitious Step Forward on ‘The Mountain Will Fall’

Matt Matasci

From his breakthrough debut “Endtroducing…..” and three subsequent studio LPs, DJ Shadow has always innovated and evolved his approach to music production. It has been a long five years since DJ Shadow has graced the music world with a full-length album but that is his modus operandi at this point. For fans of the meticulous sonic craftsman, the long period between releases is well worth it when the final product is as inspired as “The Mountain Will Fall.”

A sprawling array of music, “The Mountain Will Fall” finds DJ Shadow advancing his sound without ever taking too dramatic of a departure. Admittedly, methods of musical creation have changed since his debut in ‘96, particularly in the electronic and hip-hop genres but the same style that defined DJ Shadow’s best work through the last two decades is present throughout this release. While there are several hip-hop style tracks that work as standalone pieces (“Nobody Speak” and “The Sideshow”), the album is largely a series of cohesive sounds stitched together to create a massive beast of an LP.

The album opens in spectacular fashion on the title track with retro-styled synthesizers serenely swelling to the front of the mix before a sampled voice lets loose a “whoo!” and the beat drops. It may not quite match the iconic opening samples of “Best Foot Forward” or “Endtroducing…..” but it is a promising start to this current album. It encapsulates much of what makes DJ Shadow such a powerful electronic artist with layers and layers of sonic flourishes piled atop the song’s drum and bass foundation.

Next up is “Nobody Speak” with Run the Jewels, a pairing made in hip-hop heaven. While El-P and Killer Mike may not be the biggest names in the rap game, it’s hard to argue that they are not two of the most well-respected. Both dexterous lyricists drop boastful lines over playful horns and a guitar-based beat. While much of “The Mountain Will Fall” uses hypnotic grooves and instrumentation to subtly suck the listener in, “Nobody Speak” is a straight punch to the face. The chorus references the late dancehall legend Yellowman and his classic hit “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt,” taking the Jamaican singer’s calmly threatening delivery and dialing the aggression up a few notches.  

Much like “Nobody Speak,” mid-album track “The Sideshow” features guest rapper Ernie Fresh and abandons the moodiness of the instrumental tracks around it. While the first single was a shot of aggression, “The Sideshow” takes a more lighthearted old-school hip-hop approach, even dropping in some Bay Area lingo.

There are several standouts of the many instrumental tracks on “The Mountain will Fall.” The appropriately-titled “Depth Charge” is a snare-heavy dirge with military-style drums, leading sirens and bells that ring across the mix. The next track, “Mambo” takes that darkness in another direction with its glitchy uptempo beat and male voice inspiring dance moves in a monotone cadence. Unlike most songs about dancing, an ominous sense of dread permeates the entire track.

DJ Shadow has furthered his legacy as one of the most groundbreaking and captivating producers in the electronic and hip-hop world. He has taken an ambitious approach to the massive LP while maintaining a sense of cohesion and oneness that makes his albums so much fun to listen to and become immersed in. “The Mountain Will Fall” lives up to the excitement and hype that began to build a few months ago with the release of his collaboration with Run the Jewels.

DJ Shadow’s “The Mountain Will Fall” is available from Apple Music on June 24.