The Space Between is a 47-minute continuous mix from OVO’s progressive-R&B duo Majid Jordan, which depicts both a personal evolution of self and also a journey into the unknown, whether that be in or out of a relationship. Meant to be enjoyed in full without skipping any tracks, the follow-up to 2016’s self-titled LP Majid Jordan is highly reminiscent of their earlier Soundcloud songs and mixes (which were previously released under the moniker “Good People”). On this new record, Jordan Ullman experiments with new sounds and Majid Al Maskati becomes one with his emotions, and the risks on the album’s production are a huge step towards the future of R&B.
The moment I pressed play on The Space Between, there was an immediate connection with a very familiar feeling. While every album of Majid Jordan sounds completely different and new, the “Intro” to the record really caught me by surprise. While the guys had already suggested that the album be played entirely in full, my reaction to the start of the first track was totally validated after a little research into their inspiration.
In a recent radio interview in Los Angeles with Power 106, during a discussion about the new album, singer Majid Al Maskati stated:
Even on Soundcloud we have this 25 min piece of music. It’s a bracket, and then a straight line, bracket – that’s the emoji basically. That’s the beginning of “The Space Between”. And it’s something that Jordan started making just out of curiosity, to see how long he could keep a whole piece of music going. And it’s basically the skeleton, blueprint for what this album is.
I’ve been able to find so many obscure references in that mix that eventually lead to future material from the boys, but just hearing that this new album was specifically modeled after that made me even more ecstatic to listen to it in full.
In between 2014’s A Place Like This and 2016’s Majid Jordan, that Soundcloud mix was my go-to when I wanted to hear non-stop, continuous beats from them – but not particularly a specific album or song. I feel like this concept was a long time coming; just check out what they said during an early 2016 Complex News feature (the clips starts you at the 6:10 mark):
https://youtu.be/fOBM_XcM1tM?t=6m10s
Weird, right? Premonitions and shit. So anyway, into The Space Between I went head-first, ready for the next almost-hour to change my life. It took me a really long time to put this review together, and I felt like I needed to take a few months to think about what the album actually meant to me and what it sounds like after really listening to it. This isn’t a “reaction” or a first impression commentary, but more-so just me expressing how I interpret the production, intention, and the lyrics on this record. Please enjoy it, share it, comment, whatever – but this album is a must-hear and everyone that I’ve shared it with has agreed with me.
Love this review— very insightful!
Thank youuuuu <3