Thursday, 25 July 2013

Zedd- Clarity Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Album- Clarity

Artist- Zedd

Zedd has become a big star on the dance music scene in 2013, with his track Clarity becoming a platinum selling, top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The respective album has had some success, but not as much as the single. So the question is, should the public be taking a closer look at the body of the singers work, or is he just going to be a one hit wonder?

Track 1- Hourglass (featuring LIZ)

For a song called Hourglass it is perhaps a little weird that this track features a tick tock clock rhythm at its roots. However, aside from this fact, this is a potent track to open the record with, blending a forceful sound with delicate vocals. Lyrically the song finds LIZ in the role of a girl who is in a state of turmoil whilst time is passing her by. The lyrics don’t have a definitive hook but are elevated by the delicacy of LIZ’s vocals  which create an emotive essence to the track. The production of the track is very cool as Zedd creates a sound that melds together well but which also sounds like three separate tracks, with the first section having a more organic, bass heavy tone before going into up tempo dance territory and then ending with electro beats that feel 80’s influenced, and which acts as a prelude to the next track.

3.5/5

Track 2- Shave It Up

Shave It Up is an alternative version of the singers track ‘Shave It’. Opening with a simple statement of ‘Shave It Up’ from an 80’s movie guy, the track quickly becomes this stomping electro house number that is purely instrumental, with the ‘Shave It Up’ title popping up on occasion. Although the songs lacks the punch of the previous track in terms of their being no true lyrical content or powerful vocal, the sound of the track with the vibrant dance energy has enough of a wow factor to command your attention and make you want to dance, with the track ending with a cool use of strings for a grand finish that makes this stand out from simple dance music.

3.5/5

Track 3- Spectrum (featuring Matthew Koma)

Spectrum is a powerful electro house tune that pairs airy and emotionally loaded vocal performance with dance ready beats that create a song designed to keep the energy going in the club. Lyrically the song focuses on Koma telling this person that they will always be together, even though the relationship is filled with varied levels of emotion. The lyrics perfectly encapsulate this quality of an emotional spectrum, whilst Koma gives us a vocal that elevates the lyrics and which feels passionate and ethereal, building in a way that really captures your attention. But once again this is very much a Zedd song, and his production of forceful dance music and varied musical tones creates a strong sound that you can easily lose yourself and which is very powerful in terms of its varied intensity, creating a song where the components nicely all come together.

4/5

Track 4- Lost at Sea (featuring Ryan Tedder)

Lost at Sea has slightly more of a lighter musical edge than the previous track but is equally as passionate and forceful. The song focuses on current hit maker and One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder telling this girl of how he wants to get lost at sea and just be lost in the moment and lost in love with this girl. The metaphor driven quality of the lyrics is catchy if clichéd, whilst vocally Tedder is strong in terms of the way he varies his range and brings a touch of fragility to the track whilst ultimately sounding passionate and in the throes of love, particularly during moments when he uses his falsetto. The synths stabs and steady dance rhythm of the track is cool, with the post chorus breakdowns being perfectly executed for the dance floor, although this track is a bit safe for me.

3.5/5

Track 5- Clarity (featuring Foxes)

Becoming Zedd’s biggest hit to date, title track Clarity is a euphoric dance number which sees the DJ team up with up and coming singer Foxes. The song’s lyrics have a tumultuous quality as Foxes sings of this relationship where she doesn’t want this person but they ultimately complete her, speaking of how they love is insanity and yet this person is their clarity. The song is smartly structured in the way that it builds from the verses to the choruses for powerful dance tune that is very powerful. Foxes gives us a breathy and deep vocal performance that brings euphoria and powerful emotions to the song that makes this a truly arresting listen, with the male background vocals adding a crowd like effect in places that simply adds to the tracks intensity. The clattering dance beats and powerful electro grooves are really fine-tuned and simply elevate the vocals, and so this is a very successful, polished dance track.

4/5

Track 6- Codec

After a few vocal led tunes Zedd takes things back to a purely DJ led, instrumental sound with Codec, a funky electro house tune that has slightly more of a grittier texture and which powerfully shows how the artist can be a bit more adventurous with his music. The track features cool club beats with funky electro basslines and moments of strings that give the track this powerful tone. There are some potential vocals in the song but these are heavily distorted, and although this vocal style production is intriguing at first, it becomes a bit annoying after a while.  The track powerfully builds to make way for even harsher bass and stronger dance beats, and so whilst it is a little outstretched, this is a perfect example of pure, enjoyable dance music.

3.5/5

Track 7- Stache

Released as an a single exclusively on Beatport, Stache is another purely instrumental dance track that follows on from the previous song. However, here the electro beats becoming even more frenzied and slightly funky in tone, escalating to this state where you lose yourself in the intensity of the sound. The club driven beats become even more vibrant and dance floor ready, building to a great crescendo that is just cool, and so whilst this and the last track might not appeal to mainstream music fans, this is just fun house music that you can just lose yourself in and use as a de stress tool.

3.5/5

Track 8- Fall Into the Sky (Zedd & Lucky Date featuring Ellie Goulding)

Zedd collides with fellow DJ Lucky Date for this crazy house number that pairs the tonally rich dance music with the light and breathy vocals of UK singer- songwriter Ellie Goulding. Goulding sings of being ready to fall into the sky as she now sees the reason why, and although her contribution to the record sounds small, her ethereal sounding moments perfectly compliment the harshness of the production led sections, even if the singer is a little repetitive. The sound of the record definitely comes as two DJ’s making music as the intensity of sound is really increased and things just become more frenzied and powerful, making this a great club tune for when the night is reaching its peak.

3.5/5

Track 9- Follow You Down (featuring Bright Lights)

Follow You Down takes things down to a slightly mellower groove but still keeping the dance grooves going, and the track also has a lighter energy that is quite infectious. The song is sort of a love song as American singer-songwriter Bright Lights sings of how she feels so strongly for this person that wherever they go she will follow. The lyrics are simple and have a catchy, sweet quality about them. Bright Lights vocals feel slightly quirky which is cool, and have this airy tone that makes the love that the song is based in that much more believable. With the steady bass and tightly structured electro club beats the song has a sound that is perfectly executed to build for moments when the dance floor will be set alight, and so it just seems that as we come to the records conclusion, Zedd is a master at creating music for really partying to.

3.5/5

Track 10- Epos

Final track Epos is another pure dance track that features harsh electro beats that build in intensity and which are forceful enough to really drive you to dance. The song tonally sounds like three different tracks melded into one, and nicely references the album opener at the end with the use of a tick tock sound, creating a well-rounded record that is really enjoyable.

3.5/5

Final Review

Zedd has create a powerful dance record that shows that he will be one of the leading DJ in the music world, creating a powerful sound that is adventurous and fun. The guest artists on the record really meld well with the DJ and add something extra to his music, and as a whole the album really comes together for a cohesive sound that is great to listen to. This is enjoyable dance music as dance music should be.

9/10

Best Track- Clarity (featuring Foxes)
Worst Track- Lost at Sea (featuring Ryan Tedder)

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