In what might be the ultimate exercise in “be careful what you wish for,” stadium-sized Scottish DJ and producer Calvin Harris’ long-awaited sequel to the soundtrack of Summer 2017 has arrived, even after Harris himself was adamant that he wouldn’t make another one. Still holding up as an ideal summer playlist five years later, the … Continue reading Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2
EDM Reviews
ODESZA – The Last Goodbye
Potentially the modern electronic act with the biggest cult following, Washington DJ duo ODESZA have been out of the spotlight for nearly 5 years after hitting #3 on the charts with A Moment Apart – save for an uneven team-up with Golden Features as Bronson back in 2020. Known primarily for their sweeping, awestruck world-building … Continue reading ODESZA – The Last Goodbye
Drake – Honestly, Nevermind
The jokes write themselves with the title, don’t they? Only nine months after the biggest artist in the world released the much-ridiculed but still wildly successful Certified Lover Boy, Drake returns with his surprise-dropped 7th studio album, seemingly in an attempt to push the boundaries of how little effort he can put into a #1 … Continue reading Drake – Honestly, Nevermind
070 Shake – You Can’t Kill Me
If people thought that New Jersey experimentalist and Kanye West protégé 070 Shake’s debut project, 2020’s Modus Vivendi, was heady, disorienting and hard to follow, wait until they hear her follow-up. Returning with You Can’t Kill Me, the GOOD Music signee’s latest project dives even further into her signature sound and feels a lot more … Continue reading 070 Shake – You Can’t Kill Me
Flume – Palaces
Influential Australian electronic producer and future bass pioneer Flume has been out of the spotlight since dropping his excellent experimental mixtape Hi This Is Flume back in 2019 at the height of SOPHIE’s fame. Now back with a project apparently inspired by the work of the late legend, Palaces finds Flume once again simply messing … Continue reading Flume – Palaces
Swedish House Mafia – Paradise Again
Fresh off of a couple of weekends headlining Coachella, iconic EDM trio Swedish House Mafia have reformed for the first time in ten years to release a new collection of tracks. Although the genre’s landscape has changed quite a bit in the time they’ve been away, there’s something about their trademark melodic, synth-heavy style that … Continue reading Swedish House Mafia – Paradise Again
Diplo – Diplo
It seems that highly prolific DJ and electronic musician Diplo’s mind is in the right place when it comes to his approach to crafting an album while working in his genre – he’s made quite a few comments lately about the futility of crafting a truly engaging electronic album from front to back, opting instead … Continue reading Diplo – Diplo
Arca – KICK ii
Avant-garde Venezuelan electropop artist Arca has been one of music’s most boundlessly forward-thinking personalities for years now, and she continued to surprise this past week when she announced that her long-anticipated KICK ii album, a sequel to last year’s excellent KiCk I that jumpstarted the series, was actually going to be four albums, released one … Continue reading Arca – KICK ii
Alan Walker – World of Walker
As the year winds down, the big releases are starting to become fewer and farther between. Essentially the only one to make a dent on the charts this week, British DJ Alan Walker, still only 24 years old after scoring a massive worldwide hit in “Faded” at age 18, has dropped his sophomore album – … Continue reading Alan Walker – World of Walker
Fred again.. – Actual Life 2 (February 2 – October 15 2021)
A man with the gumption to release against the return of Adele, London songwriter and producer Fred again..’s moniker has become somewhat prophetic, as he is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand names behind the boards, having recently produced some hits for Ed Sheeran, Halsey and BTS. A remix artist at heart, his solo … Continue reading Fred again.. – Actual Life 2 (February 2 – October 15 2021)
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 