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
Dance
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
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)
Porter Robinson – Nurture
Highly influential DJ and singer Porter Robinson, believe it or not, hasn’t put out a full-length project since all the way back in 2014. Admitting to an extended period of writers’ block, overthinking things and falling into states of depression in recent interviews, his long-awaited project Nurture has finally materialized – and it couldn’t have … Continue reading Porter Robinson – Nurture
Lady Gaga – Chromatica
After taking a couple diversions from her status as a world-dominating pop star that included a stripped-back country-pop project, a couple albums of duets with a legendary jazz singer, and becoming an Oscar-nominated actress, Lady Gaga’s first album in four years is her much-anticipated return to the kind of extravagant and electronic dance-pop that characterized … Continue reading Lady Gaga – Chromatica
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Who could have seen this one coming? Tropes of 80s synthpop and disco-influenced sounds have been working their way back into the playbooks of the most forward-thinking pop stars in the industry for a while now, but nobody has truly modernized them in a way that’s so undeniably fun and futuristic like UK sensation Dua … Continue reading Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Ekali – A World Away
Canadian electronic artist Ekali has released his first full-length project after tearing it up on the festival circuit for the last couple years with a blend of hard-hitting future-bass and trap-inspired tracks and the ethereal and atmospheric sound of many of his contemporaries. He certainly exhibits both sides working at their full potential on A … Continue reading Ekali – A World Away
MØ – Forever Neverland
Not typically an albums artist, Danish electropop singer and frequent EDM collaborator MØ releases her sophomore studio album and first since 2014, though she did drop the When I Was Young EP last year. Forever Neverland is a mostly enjoyable collection of shimmery uptempo dance-pop influenced tracks, MØ shining through with the unique vocals that … Continue reading MØ – Forever Neverland
Troye Sivan – Bloom
Former YouTube sensation and retro-pop rising star Troye Sivan evades the sophomore curse with his second studio album Bloom, a celebratory and confessional look at Sivan’s powerful self-expression as he details his approaches to relationships as a gay man set to the kind of pop music that inspired him growing up. Working with some of … Continue reading Troye Sivan – Bloom
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 