Producer Mike Dean Continues His Wild Friendship With the Weeknd on His Own ‘4:23’: Album Review

variety.com:

A.D. Amorosi Famous since the top of the 1990s for bold, old-school, synth-rich productions of hardcore rappers (Scarface), multi-hyphenate hip-hop magnates (Kanye West, Travis Scott) and symphonically scored R&B vocalists (Beyoncé, the Weeknd), Mike Dean always sounds as if he’s having the most fun on his chill solo excursions.

Take the surprise drop this past weekend of “4:23,” another of Dean’s schmoked-up stoner efforts that, like 2020’s buoyant instrumental album “4:20,” is equal parts steely sci-fi epic soundtrack and spaced-out dream-pop.“4:23” is occasionally reminiscent of Dean’s home-recorded, souped-up synth-works, full of proggy impromptu noodling carved from larger ice block suites.

But this new album mostly features tracks more succinct and cutting — actual songs. For such freshly anointed precision, we can likely credit Dean’s steadfast collaborator, tour partner and streaming network co-star, the Weeknd, who takes on a role here as the executive producer of “4:23.” Inside of each other’s business since 2015’s odd-time-signature-filled “Beauty Behind the Madness,” Dean and the Weeknd have matured together through several eerily romantic creations, the latest of which was 2022’s “Dawn FM.” Along with the pair’s collaboration with Future on the testy new track “Double Fantasy,” Dean is also the Weeknd’s screen co-star on “The Idol,” the upcoming HBO series co-created with showrunner Sam Levinson, of “Euphoria” fame.

The Weeknd’s idea of alluring avant-garde pop-soul has rubbed off on Dean on the four “4:23” tracks on which they share writing credits.