Mirwais Shows He Can Make Beautiful Music on His Own

*** MIRWAIS

“Production”

Epic

When Madonna decided to explore the world of electronica with 1998’s “Ray of Light,” she was reportedly turned down by several electronic acts who were worried that collaborating with the pop icon would damage their credibility with hard-core fans. William Orbit dismissed those concerns and was rewarded with a prodigious move from cult techno artist to pop-culture darling.

Composer-producer Mirwais Ahmadzai, who co-produced much of Madonna’s follow-up, “Music,” is hoping her Midas touch has the same effect for him. Perhaps realizing this might be his all-or-nothing shot, Mirwais, who’s labored in underground obscurity since joining the French pop ensemble Taxi Days in 1980, has come through with an album that could lift him out of that anonymity for good.

“Production,” his full-length solo debut, explores a variety of styles with success, starting with the opening Daft Punk-esque “Disco Science.” The album’s most intriguing moment is “Junkie’s Prayer,” an intentionally distorted down-tempo nod. Madonna has publicly declared Mirwais to be a “genius and the future of sound,” exactly the kind of hyperbole that sets one up for backlash. However, Mirwais’ daring blend of the avant-garde with dance hooks and ambient trip-hop beats can stand up to the hype.

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