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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