LMNO - Three Mimes & an Elephant

The album Three Mimes & An Elephant opens with a track titled Intro, immediately setting the stage for an approach that prioritizes sound engineering over collaborative density. This 10-track project, with a total duration of 32 minutes and 14 seconds, is presented as a technical testament, entirely produced by DJ D-Styles and released under the Beat Junkie Sound label on May 30, 2025. Long associated with the group Visionaries or the collective experiences of LMD with Madlib, this album marks a period of pure solo work for LMNO, where production is no longer just a supporting element but the primary architect of the listening experience.

D-Styles' Technical Introversion on a Precarious Ground

The project moves away from previous collaborations with Mr. Brady or Gfear, particularly with Caught in the Moment (2025), to focus exclusively on the vision of DJ D-Styles, who also handles the scratching, and whose work was supervised by Jerry D in the mixing. This monolithic approach transforms the album into a pure production showcase, where each track must stand its ground within a cohesive whole.

The Rhetorical Duel: Self Jupiter in the Blind Spot of Production

While most of the tracks remain without any significant vocal collaborations, the track A Duel with a Dual Edge (track 2) marks a departure with the inclusion of Self Jupiter. Her contribution is not present throughout the entire album, but appears only on this single track, creating an immediate contrast with the sonic texture established by the producer. This isolated collaboration serves as a test of resilience for the D-Styles production, adding a layer of vocal complexity to a track that initially seems dedicated to exploring the technical capabilities of the duo LMNO and D-Styles. Self Jupiter's contribution remains limited to this specific track, acting as a focal point in an album that deliberately chooses the restraint of solo performances.

Cross Examination: Proof through the style of a sound architect

At the heart of this architecture, the track Cross Examination acts as a direct confrontation between the artist and their producer. This track tests the coherence of the artistic vision within a concise timeframe, demanding attentive listening and preventing listener fatigue despite the limited number of compositions. The narrative density is palpable, transforming this moment of examination into a stylistic exercise where the lyrics must perfectly complement the basslines provided by D-Styles. This is where the balance of the project is achieved: an album that rejects the richness of external collaborations in favor of an intense focus on internal songwriting and production.

Blu and the Melodic Descent of a Complete Solo Work

The project culminates in Out of Sight (out of mind), a closing track marked by the involvement of Blu. Blu's contribution, confirmed only here, adds a necessary touch of variation to an album that maintained a strict sonic consistency throughout its duration.

Thirty-Two Minutes of Raw Intensity for a Ten-Track Album

The album's structure reveals a particular ambition: to encompass within 10 tracks what could have been a more expansive project spread across more tracks, as evidenced by earlier works such as Leave My Name Out (2001) or the collaborative projects of Flying High (2022). The total duration of 32 minutes and 14 seconds suggests a disciplined approach to selection, where every second counts, transforming brevity into strength. While the absence of external production might be perceived as a limitation, it proves to be a virtue here, demanding constant attention to the quality of the technical execution. Three Mimes & An Elephant therefore emerges as a sonic study, where LMNO's trajectory takes on a new dimension under the exclusive direction of a producer who masters both the groove and the scratching.

Technical Details

- Release Date: May 30, 2025 - Label: Beat Junkie Sound - Tracks: 10 (32 min 14 s) - Opening / Closing Tracks: Intro / Out of Sight (out of mind) - Featured Artists: Self Jupiter, Blu - Previous Album: Caught In The Moment (2025)