NEW BLUE SUN
André 3000
The Big Issue Australia
Issue #7018 December 2023
By Olivia J. Bennett
André 3000's constant companion, a wooden double flute, becomes a focal point in New Blue Sun, marking his debut to the solo scene after decades as a rap heavyweight. This album ventures into ambient territory, blending jazz-inspired flute, percussion and subtle digital embellishments. Drawing inspiration from the experimental jazz projects of American composer and Afrofuturist Sun Ra, André steers the listener through a meditative journey, transitioning from the humidity of a tropical rainforest to the crisp air of a glacial mountaintop. While commendable, New Blue Sun aligns more with genre traditions than pushing them forward. The album's purpose seems rooted in Andre's personal clarity, evident in the candid, sentence-long titles. ‘I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap' Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time' captures this unfiltered expression. The album radiates with an impassioned, almost all-consuming dedication, spotlighting an artist negotiating a mature trajectory for his genre-defining rap stylings.