Album Review

Mr. Hong – ‘perfect days’ [EP] [Album Review]

There’s a luscious, chill-jazz quality to Mr. Hong’s ‘perfect days’ that simultaneously anchors it and allows it to stray in a new direction.

Published

7 days ago

08/31/2024

Randy Radic

Mr. Hong ‘Perfect Days’ album artwork

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Lofi producer Mr. Hong releases his brand-new album perfect days, a musical translation of Wim Wenders’ 2023 film of the same name.

According to Mr. Hong, “I was very moved by Wim Wenders’ film, which I happened to see while visiting New York this past March. I feel like I’m starting the next chapter of my life. ‘perfect days’ is a reminder to myself and my listeners to appreciate the little things in life, to embrace the change, and to be excited for the future.”

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Mr. Hong’s sound blends hip-hop, electronic, classical, and natural elements into music that generates feelings of gentle delight. Mr. Hong’s music has been featured in campaigns for UNIQLO, Urban Outfitters, the NBA, 88RISING, and MAC Cosmetics.

Mr. Hong broke through with the release of 2017’s longdays.shortyears, which explores the challenge of reconciling life and work. In the midst of the pandemic, he collaborated with Melbourne-based artist Pastels. The result of that collaboration was café a.m. and café p.m.

In 2021, he released 31, a mixtape for my sister, a tribute to his sister, who passed away from brain cancer in 2019. His 2022 album, last night, is an instrumental narration of a night out, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Made up of seven tracks, highlights on perfect days include the opening track, “komorebi,” a mellow tune merging hints of hip-hop and bluesy jazz. There’s a noir-like nostalgia to the tune, upbeat yet tinged by suggestions of melancholy.

Mr. Hong, photo courtesy of Mr. Hong

A personal favourite because of its potent rhythmic thumps topped by smooth waves of jazz, “patterns” features a low-slung, seductive Kenny G-like saxophone that gives the tune voluptuous, flued surfaces.

“tic-tac-toe” rolls out on a simple jazz/hip-hop beat, followed by the entry of a remote saxophone that floats on the near side of a delicious haze in the backdrop. Traveling on soft, emerging tones, the title track rides a swaying rhythm that descends to a gracefully tinkling piano and then ascends and elevates to a powerful, jazz-flavoured melody.

There’s a luscious, chill-jazz quality to perfect days that simultaneously anchors it and allows it to stray in a new direction.