Turn That Fucking Music Up: Mike Young’s Underrated Gem from 1998
Alright, let’s talk about Turn That Fucking Music Up, the gloriously weird and groovy album by Mike Young. Released in '98 under Donna Lee Records (Spain, of all places), this electronic masterpiece is a wild ride through downtempo beats and breakbeat bangers that somehow still feels fresh today. And yeah, I said "fresh." Deal with it.
First off, can we just appreciate the sheer audacity of the title? It’s like Mike knew exactly what he was doing—giving us permission to crank up the volume and forget about tomorrow's headache. The guy didn’t just make music; he made an experience. You’re not just listening—you’re living it. Or at least pretending you are while sitting on your couch eating leftover pizza.
Now, onto the tracks. Let’s start with “Mister Babalu.” Oh man, this one slaps harder than your drunk uncle at a family reunion. The beat builds slow, teasing you like someone who knows they’ve got something good. Then BAM—it drops, and suddenly you're transported to some neon-lit underground club in Barcelona circa 1998. Close your eyes, and you might even smell the stale cigarette smoke and spilled sangria. It’s hypnotic, funky, and kinda makes you want to wear sunglasses indoors. Like, who does that? But also… why not?
Then there’s “This Is Rock ‘N’ Roll.” Spoiler alert: it isn’t. Not even close. Instead, it’s this bizarre mashup of glitchy breaks and smooth-as-hell downtempo vibes. Imagine if robots tried to cover The Rolling Stones but got distracted halfway through and started vibing to Portishead instead. Sounds chaotic, right? But somehow, it works. This track sticks with me because it’s so unapologetically itself. No pretense, no trying too hard—it’s just out here doing its thing, daring you to hate it. Spoiler again: you won’t.
Props where they’re due—the production quality is top-notch thanks to Big Toxic mastering the hell out of this thing. And hats off to Jean-Maurice Radiant-Casio and Philipp Engel-Lacroix for the design work. Whoever thought acid-trip-inspired graphics paired with sleek typography would look THIS cool deserves a medal or something.
But let’s zoom out for a sec. What’s wild about this album is how effortlessly it bridges genres. Downtempo chillness meets breakbeat chaos, creating something that feels both nostalgic and ahead of its time. Sure, it came out over two decades ago, but it doesn’t feel dated. If anything, it’s aged like fine wine—or maybe cheap beer, depending on how you roll.
So here’s the kicker: as much as I love albums that take themselves seriously, there’s something refreshing about one that says, “Screw it, let’s have fun.” Mike Young didn’t set out to change the world with Turn That Fucking Music Up. He just wanted to make people move—and honestly? Mission accomplished.
Final thought: If aliens ever invade Earth and demand proof that humans could party, I’m handing them this album. Either that or a mixtape of cat videos. Your call, ET.
