Audiopile Review: Just the other week, we were decrying the fact that legendary underground hip-hop producer Madlib isn’t as ridiculously prolific as he used to be. There are some artists (such as the godlike Peter Hammill, just to pick an example completely at random) who demand full engagement. You must hear all their voluminous output to truly understand any of it. With Madlib, it turns out, the output was more voluminous than some of you may have known. The MFs here are divided between those who’d never heard of the ‘Mind Fusion’ series and those who already own every volume. That is to say, between the true heads and those who are now hanging their heads in shame. Dating from 2004, ‘Mind Fusion Vol. 2’ was originally a Japan-only CD, featuring three DJ sets from Madlib. And this vinyl release culls a dozen of the rarer tracks that feature across those mixes, working kind of like an ‘Ultimate Breaks and Beats’, Madlib edition. It serves up the kind of funky, soulful stuff-you’ve-never-heard-before that you might expect. Except it feels like you HAVE heard it before because it’s exactly the type of stuff Madlib constantly samples. The man himself has stated that he considers himself a DJ first and foremost. ‘Mind Fusion Vol. 2’ is, therefore, the Madlib experience in its purest form.

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Taken from the ultra-rare Japanese promo mix CD released in 2004 by Madlib himself on his Mind Fusion label. Now on multi -coloured splater vinyl for the first time. Taking a selection of the best tracks, grooves and breaks from the legendary Mind Fusion Volume 2 mix CD here on vinyl for the first time ever are the entirety full length unmixed original versions. An amazing collection of extremely rare Jazz, Funk , Brazilian and Soul music from Madlibs eclectic and uber diverse record collection.