Earlier this week, Mike Dean announced that his new album 4:23 was dropping soon. The album is the third in his numbered series, following 2020's 4:20 and 2021's 4:22. Dean is a famed hip-hop record producer who has worked with the biggest names in the industry. Among his clients are Beyonce, Drake, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Madonna, Lana Del Rey, and more. He has also worked extensively with The Weeknd, including playing a part in the star's new collab with Future, "Double Fantasy." The single is from the soundtrack from Abel's new HBO show, The Idol. As such, it is likely that Mike Dean also played a hand in producing the rest of the soundtrack with The Weeknd. “There’s a whole album. I’m not shying away from making music. It’s just adding another element to my already crowded schedule," Abel said of the new soundtrack.
In order to announce the new album from Mike Dean, Abel took to social media. "New @therealmikedean 4:23 album co-executive produced by me dropping this week,” The Weeknd tweeted. Very few details about the album were revealed before its release. Being that it was announced just several days beforehand, it's no surprise.
Mike Dean's Wonderland of Dreamy Synths
On 4:23, Mike Dean welcomes you into his weird, dreamy world of analog synths. Even as far as electronic music goes, much of this album is not for the faint of heart. The Weeknd has some great guest vocal spots, but much of it is simply synthesizer madness. There are some standouts, however, particularly on some of the songs with Abel. Perhaps the best song on the album is "Artificial Intelligence." It would fit very well into The Weeknd's oeuvre, so it makes a lot of sense that he features on it.
"You can have me on my knees / Like I was about to break / Idolizin' at your feet / Know that you are so far away," Abel sings on the track. "I will travel overseas / Join hearts in another place / I'll do all to compete / Emotionless." He gives a very strong, emotional performance over Mike Dean's space production. The album does lose its way at certain points, but there will always be plenty of good production to reel listeners back in. "118k" is one of the weaker tracks, but the distorted, weaponized feedback that comes on immediately after in "Earth To Michael" makes it impossible to stop listening.
Tracklist:
- Once Upon a Time
- Artificial Intelligence
- Defame Moi
- More Coke!!
- Music for the Future
- Rewind Life
- Goodbye Earth
- Hello Space
- Mechanical Tarantula
- 118k
- Earth To Michael
- Emotionless
- Electric Sheep