This familiar sounding track can be found on Mac Milller’s 2014 mixtape ‘Faces’, which until now hasn’t been available on streaming platforms or physical formats. However, it was recently announced that the 24 track project will be re-released onto streaming platforms on October 15th.
‘Faces’ has become a clear fan favorite for its introspective lyrical content and frequent experimental, unique and gloomy production. Running at over 80 minutes, Mac’s eleventh mixtape was mostly produced by himself under his Larry Fisherman alias. ‘Faces’ was initially released back in 2014 and had contributions from Thundercat, Earl Sweatshirt, ScHoolboy Q, Sir Michael Rocks, Rick Ross, Mike Jones, Vince Staples, and more.
‘Faces’ will also be getting a special vinyl release the same day, with cover art co-created by Mac himself as well as the great Sam Mason. A portion of proceeds from vinyl sales will go to ‘The Mac Miller Fund’, which was established by Mac’s family in his honor after his tragic passing in 2018.
In addition to the ‘Faces’ announcement, fans can now also watch a brand new music video for the mixtape’s standout ‘Colors and Shapes’, which sees backing from Thundercat. ‘Colors and Shapes’ is essentially a psychedelic journey through an LSD trip, the lyrics detailing Mac’s otherworldly experiences.
The music video is an absolute experience and brings the subject matter to life, serving as the perfect visual interpretation of this chill and memorizing track. The video starts with Mac’s dog Ralphie and continues to take us on an otherworldly journey through an array of different dimensions. The music video’s director Sam Mason explains further via his statement:
“The track felt very visual to me, like it had its own world. This atmospheric nighttime place that was sometimes dangerous, sometimes comforting, then I saw a picture of Ralph and a story emerged…”
He continues:
“To build it out I asked Malcolm’s family to send me bits and pieces from his childhood … In the abstract, it’s meant to be a video about childhood, growing up as an artist and the highs and lows of that experience. It’s sort of a look at the emotional and difficult and perilous but noble path of an artist.”
In conclusion, the ‘Colors and Shapes’ track is an absolute experience with its psychedelic instrumental, transient vocals and raw lyrical contents. I would definitely recommend listening to the track while watching the music video; the audio-visual journey is a perfect pairing and really peaks my interest for the rest of the mixtape and it’s possible visuals.