This Must Be the Place

Michigan beatmaker Apollo Brown was one of the first artists to sign with underground hip-hop staple Mello Music Group. Since 2010, he has released more than two dozen full-lengths, including full collaborations with renowned emcees like Ghostface Killah, Ras Kass, and Planet Asia, in addition to Sincerely, Detroit, a guest-filled love letter to his home city. Hes also released instrumental projects on occasion, with 2011s Clouds being a dreamy beat tape and 2014s Thirty Eight closer in spirit to a neo-noir soundtrack. This Must Be the Place is a reserved and relaxed set of three-minute instrumentals filled with hazy, watercolor melodies seemingly designed to evoke far-gone memories. Based on productions solicited by several audio designers and music libraries, the release resembles a "lo-fi beats to study and chill to" playlist more than Browns past instrumental efforts, yet it still maintains the character and quality level of his other output. Some of the material has appeared in other forms -- "Watch the Ball Drop" is essentially the instrumental to "What the Hook Gon Be" from Browns 2021 album with Stalley, but its so haunting and gorgeous that it deserves to be heard on its own. Other tracks play like nostalgic daydreams, from the mellow sway of opener "Got It Good" to the grainy fidelity and dragging snares of "Flowers Die." "Escapism" has busier, more neon-tinted sequencers, and "Catching Moments" similarly feels like a pleasant 80s throwback, with synths that could have been in a Wham! song and a breezy "Ashleys Roachclip" breakbeat. Choral vocals add a hopeful touch to "Pipe Dreams," and the jazzy elements of tracks like "Nervous Goodbyes" make for some of the albums most soothing moments. This Must Be the Place makes for sublime background music, but it also demonstrates the restless producers dedication to his craft. ~ Paul Simpson