Album- Electronic Earth
Artist- Labrinth
After producing and writing for other artists, which
produced a number of hits, British artist Labrinth was signed to the Simon
Cowell led label Syco in June 2010, a big deal at the time as this was Cowell’s
first non-talent show signing for six years. Electronic Earth is meant to be a
title that presents him as an artist in terms of the blending of musical genres
and ideas, but after producing and creating great music for other artists, and
whilst making some hits of his own, is this actually an album that shows he
deserves to have been that non talent show signed gem he seems.
Track 1- Climb on
Board
Opening the record is this track
that invokes a little bit of a euphoric feeling in its powerful message and
freeing ideology. This is lyrically kind of a love song, as Labrinth sings to
this girl about how he is going on this ride, and he basically wants her to
come off on this journey with him. The chorus could be a little catchier but
the message of the song is conveyed nicely and the lack of the really great
hook is made up for in the cool production that works really well in showing
how Labrinth wants to create a sound that blends. This is because the
clattering beats and electronic energy melds with the jazzy keys and more
acoustic sensibilities in an awesome way. Vocally the singer also gives a cool
twist with the initial heavy digital effects placed on his voice that grabs
your attention, before stripping that back a little for a simpler sound which
is very nice, although he perhaps overreaches a little vocally in the chorus,
and the voiceover like quality used in the final chorus is more annoying than
cool.
3.5/5
Track 2- Earthquake
(featuring Tinie Tempah)
As the title of the song would suggest, this is a stomping,
electro pop and club infused track that is that song that will keep the party
really going, or if it isn’t going, get it started. The lyrics simply focus
upon how Labrinth predicts this earthquake happening because of the people who
are making such a powerful energy, with Tinie Tempah adding a little rap
section as part of the bridge to further exemplify how the place is jumping and
how cool he feels. The message may sound to simple when distilled, but Labrinth
makes a cool track that has a really catchy and memorable chorus, whilst also throwing
cheeky nods to his label and boss. Vocally Labrinth is strong in terms of
vocals, keeping sings on a simple level and really just letting the lyrics and
the production doing the main work as this is where the songs strength really
is. Production wise the song is so great, with a thumping bass line and a
warped electronic rhythm that is so memorable, with the royal trumpets and monk like tone of the
bridge throwing a bit of a curveball into the song that makes for that really
big, crowd pleasing finish.
4.5/5
Track 3- Last Time
Gravitated to the song by his love of science fiction. Third
track Last Time is one of the more electronically based tunes that does indeed
sound like a bit of an extra-terrestrial journey when it opens with that
heavily Auto Tuned vocal and echoing effect. The song is a lyrically a bit of a
party tune for the young people of the world who like too travel, as Labrinth
sings about travelling the world and just discovering the things that the world
has to offer. It is perhaps a bit
lyrically clichéd but the chorus has a powerful hook driven energy, and the
slowed down energy of the bridge makes for a great moment of transition into a
grand finish that see the clattering electro pop rhythm of the production being
joined with potent strings, allowing for a quite grand finish. The production
is very slick and has a kind of fizzy energy that really gets you excited, the
only issue is that the vocal performance is something that can make you really
like the song or really hate it, as the way his voice is so heavily digitised
that he becomes one with the electronic world he loves is something that is
just not to all tastes.
3.5/5
Track 4- Treatment
Labrinth’s only solo single to not reach the top 40 of the
UK music charts, Treatment is a nice transition for the record as the sound is
a little bit more of a heavy mix of electronic undertones with prominent,
almost rock based sounds, and is also a change in terms of how Labrinth is not
in a happy state. Rather this is a lyrically heart-breaking song that is about
the craziness of love, with Labrinth telling this girl that she has really hurt
him and he thinks that he needs treatment to get over this girl and the
craziness that goes with his feelings. The song is more powerful than the previous
songs, and vocally it is really cool as Labrinth brings this true sense of
passion within his voice, with the use of a female vocal in the bridge also
being a cool moment that shows he is on the cusp of being saved but is fragile.
I really love the production of the track, as the electronic base of the song
melds really nicely with that incessant drumbeat and great guitar riffs that
give that song a nice sound that draws a line between light and dark, and I
can’t see why this was not a top 40 hit, as it is better than some tracks that
have been top 40 hits.
3.5.5
Track 5- Express
Yourself
After the heartbreak of the previous track we enter into a
more happy go lucky state with this track that contains an interloping sample
from the song "Express Yourself"
by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. The song is all
about how Labrinth and us aren’t what some people may want and aren’t like our
peers, but we should celebrate our individuality and just express who we are.
It’s a catchy ideology that is given power through the simplicity of the chorus
and the soulful quality of the vocal that creates a great groove and gets you
wanting to be as happy go lucky as Labrinth seems to be. The thumping bass just
gives a nice swaying energy to the track, complete with gospel like handclaps
and a funky breakdown at the end that will have you up and shaking your stuff.
3.5/5
Track 6- Let the Sun
Shine
Released way in advance of the album, Let the Sun Shine is
the debut single of Labrinth as a solo artist. And whilst not as attention
grabbing as his second single, this works nicely in introducing his electronic
sensibilities and showing us that he can produce happy music that gets us
excited as listeners. Inspired by the
sunshine coming up, the lyrically quality of the song is upbeat and finds
Labrinth creating a positive vibe by expressing the idea of letting go of
negativity, using the positive image of the sun as the basis of his idea. Vocally
this is one of the stronger moments for Labrinth has he keeps the digitising of
his voice to a much more minimal level, instead having some nice layering in
the chorus and just showing that he can sing and has a nice bit of soul to his
voice. The beat is familiar but has an great lightness and keeps the song on a
nice chilled level that is a bit euphoric and fits with the message of the
track perfectly.
3.5/5
Track 7- Beneath Your
Beautiful (featuring Emeli Sande)
The biggest single from this record, Labrinth’s
collaboration with one of the stars of the moment Emeli Sande slows things down
for an RnB ballad that is based in a very sweet lyrical ideology and a simple
sound that lets their vocals do the real work. The message of the track finds
the two singers singing about how the other person is really great but kind of
hides themselves from the world, and so they just want to take down those walls
that hide them and ask them to let the other see the beautiful qualities that
lie underneath. It is a sweet message that works really well as a duet, with
both artists bringing smooth and passionate vocal performances. The production
is also really nice, starting off softly and building with the incessant drum
beat and string sections that just give the song a great build and an epic
tone. The lyrics are also nice in their ambiguity: it could mean that the
person wants to see the others beauty that lies beneath, or see beyond the
beauty and be shown the flaws to make a real connection. I think at first
listen it can come off a little cheesy, but after repeated listens (or maybe
just because UK radio have constantly played it) you will kind of see the
beauty of this track.
4/5
Track 8- Sundown
From the acoustic, slowed down quality of the previous track
we enter into this more electronically heavy tone that has an RnB quality and a
real sensual edge. The tracks lyrics focus on this girl who Labrinth can’t keep
up with but who he needs in his life, and the track is just like this debate
within his head. It takes an annoying while for the song to kick in, but when
it does it sounds good, with the vocal performance sounding cool with the
electronic tone whilst still having an RnB smoothness. The production is the
best thing about this track, as the simmering energy of the electronic beats
keep you anticipating, and when the final, rock heavy kind of sound of the
final sections kick in, you get excited and join in with Labrinth’s quite
volatile emotions.
3.5/5
Track 9- Sweet Riot
Sweet Riot is a track that keeps the rock vibe of the
previous song going a little, but with the electronic tones being a little bit
more prominent. If the song has riot in the title, then you can probably easy
guess what the lyrics are all about: Labrinth just singing about how the place
is jumping and they are going to party, whilst also creating a little bit of a
community feeling. Vocally Labrinth is as strong as usual, but there is also a
nice little bit of softness to his voice that conveys a youthful energy, with
this song very much being a song to inspire the younger generation. The simple
nature of the beats and the clattering drums is really nice, and the guitar
solo used as part of the final minute is really great and makes for a good
finish, something Labrinth seems to be really good at.
3.5/5
Track 10- Vultures
Things are kept on a bit more of emotional and powerful
level with this track that finishes the record on a strong note where Labrinth
is caught in a kind of negative state but will come out stronger on the other
side. When I hear this song I kind of feel that this is inspired not only by
life in general but also in terms of the struggles that come with getting into
the music industry, and the song works really well as an anthem for the
oppressed, whether that be through any circumstances such as bullying or even
just your general outlook on life, and feels you with this nice sense of hope.
The vocal performance is really strong, showcasing the singers voice very nicely
with the Auto Tune taking a firm back seat, and the song works well in the way
that his voice builds as the song goes on. The production mixes a great mix of
guitar instrumentation with potent strings, a thumping bass and potent string
and piano melodies that just make this an impactful tune that rises and falls
with the songs lyrical content and ends up with Labrinth just coming out
strong. This is definitely a great song to end the record with, and I’m a bit
sad that this wasn’t chosen as a single, as this definitely would have been a
great choice.
4/5
Final Review
With this album Labrinth does indeed shows why he was signed
to Syco, because he is just an awesome musician who really brings a fresh
energy to his music through the blending of organic musical tones with strong
electronic vibes, and the way that with every song he brings out this sense of
him having really enjoyed making the track. I think that keeping the record to
a short 10 track length was great as prolonging the albums length as a whole
might have left you becoming a bit annoyed towards the end, simple because the
electronic tones of some of the vocal performances can feel a bit annoying
depending on your taste. And whilst there is an eclectic style exhibited here,
the record still stands as a cohesive body of work. Labrinth is a great
producer but shows here how he is a musician in his own right and is perhaps
even greater than some of his musical peers.
8/10
Best Track-
Earthquake (featuring Tinie Tempah)
Worst Track- Sundown
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