The Mountain Will Fall

If DJ Shadow ever aspired to be the Ennio Morricone of beatmakers, The Mountain Will Fall shows he’s already there—innovating and executing with style and precision. The album consolidates the Northern California DJ's many personas—found-sound scion, musical adventurer, rap DJ—into a cohesive whole. Run the Jewels runs riot over Shadow’s blueprints on the political “Nobody Speak.” He puts it down for his home state on “California,” uncoiling bass like a cobra striking in slo-mo. “Ashes to Oceans” is the album’s signature beat suite that stands among his best—conveying emotion and drama with the deftness of a classical conductor.