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
Electronic
Lights – PEP
Releasing on a relatively quiet week, Canadian indie and electropop icon Lights – though not incredibly well-known outside of her home country – has been getting some extra attention lately with her fifth studio album, PEP. Known for genre-bending (her recent output has included a side project representing somewhat of a dubstep revival and a … Continue reading Lights – PEP
The Weeknd – Dawn FM
You have to imagine that one of the most common questions The Weeknd gets is about why he dies so much – often graphically – throughout his music videos and album concepts. On the Toronto R&B/pop icon’s fifth full-length album, he takes his morbid curiosity to an entirely new level – but as it turns out, … Continue reading The Weeknd – Dawn FM
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)
TWICE – Formula of Love: O+T=<3
While everyone this side of the Atlantic held off on their release to avoid competition with Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars, nine-member K-pop girl group TWICE continued widely outpacing many of their peers when it comes to the sheer volume of music released and dropped their third album in just over a year. While I’ve … Continue reading TWICE – Formula of Love: O+T=<3
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
Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
If there’s one single benefit to the world that the Trump presidency has provided, it’s the fact that it has seemingly reignited Damon Albarn’s creative muscles in a major way. On virtual band Gorillaz’ third album in four years since taking an extended break for the better part of the decade, they once again take … Continue reading Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
HONNE – no song without you
UK electropop duo HONNE’s third studio album – well, technically, according to them, their first “mixtape” – has arrived, and it’s full of sentimental love songs and the duo’s typical cheery and minimal songwriting style. Recorded partially with the duo stuck apart and with less tools than usual at their hands while in quarantine, the … Continue reading HONNE – no song without you
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 