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Makaya McCraven

Off the Record (2LP)

2LP

€32.50

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The source material is drawn from moments of pure improvisation, recorded live in performance, shaped as much by the room and audience as by the musicians themselves.

Internationally acclaimed drummer, producer, and sonic collagist Makaya McCraven returns to announce four distinct yet interconnected EPs – Techno Logic, The People’s Mixtape, Hidden Out!, and PopUp Shop. Techno Logic features Ben LaMar Gay and Theon Cross, and draws from performances in London (2017), Berlin (2024), and New York (2025), showcasing nearly eight years of developing rapport between the three musicians, starting with their very first session at Worldwide FM’s former North London studio.

The People’s Mixtape has its foundation in a live recording from Brooklyn’s Public Records in January of 2025, where McCraven celebrated the 10 year anniversary of In The Moment with an intentional return to the improvisational language he developed over that album’s sessions. For the occasion, McCraven played with bassist Junius Paul and trumpeter Marquis Hill (two musicians who are majorly present on In The Moment), as well as vibraphonist Joel Ross (who has been a regular collaborator of McCraven’s since the 2017 sessions for Universal Beings), and synthesist Jeremiah Chiu (marking the first occasion for McCraven to play with the SML co-leader and International Anthem labelmate).

Hidden Out! is built off recordings from McCraven’s June 2017 residency at The Hideout in Chicago, where he improvised weekly with a revolving cast including bassist Junius Paul, Tortoise member, International Anthem labelmate, composer and guitarist Jeff Parker, and SML co-leader, Grammy-award winning producer and alto saxophonist Josh Johnson. PopUp Shop was created from recordings of McCraven’s Los Angeles debut at Del Monte Speakeasy in 2015, where McCraven took part in the King Hippo and Grown Kids Radio produced event RAWS:LA, and improvised with guitarist Jeff Parker, vibraphonist Justefan, and bassist Benjamin J. Shepherd.

Details
Cat. number: IARC0103, 1-728417, 075597894523
Year: 2025

Release notes

Compiles four EPs released on 17 October 2025. PopUp Shop (Side A) performed on September 22nd, 2015 at the Del Monte Speakeasy in Venice, CA, as part of RAWS:LA presented by Kingo Hippo and Grown Kids Radio. Editing, additional composition and overdubs completed on September 23rd, 2015 in the alley behind Townhouse on Windward Ave in Venice, CA. Hidden Out! (Side B) performed on June 27th, 2017 at The Hideout in Chicago, IL, except "Awaze" (track B4) performed on June 20th, 2017 at The…

Tracklist
PopUp Shop
A1YoYoYo Intro
A2Venice
A3Imafan
A4Los Gatos
A5Sweet Stuff
Hidden Out!
B1Battleships
B2Away
B3Dark Parks
B4Awaze
B5News Feed
B6Braddas
Techno Logic
C1Gnu Blue
C2Technology
C3Boom Bapped
C4Prime
C5Strikes Again
The People's Mixtape
D1Choo Choo
D2The Beat Up
D3What A Life
D4Lake Shore Drive Five
Credits
Benjamin J. Shepherd
Composed By, Performer, Bass Guitar (A1 to A5)
Junius Paul
Composed By, Performer, Bass Guitar (D1 to D4), Composed By, Performer, Double Bass (B1 to B6)
Ben LaMar Gay
Composed By, Performer, Cornet, Voice, Percussion, Synth, Electronics, Diddley Bow (C1 to C5), Featuring
Makaya McCraven
Composed By, Performer, Drums, Edited By, Composed By [Additional Composition], Overdubbed By, Keyboards, Synth (A1 to A5), Edited By, Composed By [Additional Composition], Overdubbed By, Percussion, Keyboards, Synth (D1 to D4), Edited By, Composed By [Additional Composition], Overdubbed By, Percussion, Keyboards, Synth, Vibraphone (C1 to C5), Edited By, Composed By [Additional Composition], Overdubbed By, Percussion, Keyboards, Synth, Vibraphone, Guitar (B1 to B6), Mixed By, Producer
Jeff Parker
Composed By, Performer, Guitar (A1 to B3, B5, B6)
Josh Johnson
Composed By, Performer, Saxophone, Electronics (B4)
Jeremiah Chiu
Composed By, Performer, Synthesizer [Modular Synthesizer], Percussion (D1 to D4)
Marquis Hill
Composed By, Performer, Trumpet, Electronics (B4), Composed By, Performer, Trumpet, Percussion, Electronics (D1 to D4)
Theon Cross
Composed By, Performer, Tuba, Electronics (C1 to C5), Featuring
Joel Ross
Composed By, Performer, Vibraphone (D1 to D4)
Justefan
Composed By, Performer, Vibraphone (A1 to A5)
Aaron Lowell Denton
Design
Alejandro Ayala
Executive-Producer (A1 to A5)
Scott McNiece
Executive-Producer
Sergio Flores
Executive-Producer (A1 to A5)
Kr
Lacquer Cut By
David Allen
Mastered By, Recorded By (C1 to C5)
Dave Vettraino
Mixed By, Recorded By (B1 to C5)
Jacob Blickenstaff
Photography By [Cover Photo]
Joe Summers
Producer [Production Assistance] (C1 to C5)
Niko de Paula Lefort
Producer [Production Assistance] (C1 to C5)
Tina Edwards
Producer [Production Assistance] (C1 to C5)
Alf Brooks
Recorded By (C1 to C5)
Caio Carvalho
Recorded By (C1 to C5)
George Haskell
Recorded By (C1 to C5)
Lily Wen
Recorded By (D1 to D4)
Tim Oakley
Recorded By (A1 to A5)
Ken Barrientos
Recorded By [Recording Assistance] (A1 to A5)