Review

Larry June & The Alchemist

The Great Escape

Empire • 2023

The shoe fits here, as it quite evidently did on Larry June’s »Spaceships On The Blade«. The Alchemist-produced track »Breakfast In Monaco« proved to be one of the highlights of the LP, so it was only a matter of time before Larry June and The Alchemist found their way back into the studio again. In terms of beats, The Alchemist has set the cruise control to around 70 BPM and tickled buttery instrumentals out of his ASR-10 sampler for his West Coast pal from the Bay Area. Larry June, on the other hand, plays the role of life coach for the three-quarters of an hour, offering useful investment and nutritional advice in his usual calm manner. You won’t find a more affordable and relaxed coaching experience anywhere else any time soon. Must-hear guest speakers like Jay Worthy, Curren$y and Slum Village (!) also drop by, and even The Alchemist himself delivers a brilliant 16 minute performance for the first time in a long time. This session feels so incredibly organic in its composition and suggests that this is Larry June’s best album to date.