Calvin Harris paid off all the curiosity he raised on Motion's album. One by one singles and tracks released indicate an album that is not only thick with the nuances of EDM and Pop, but also more mature musicality. Especially when knowing who he invited to be involved in this album.
In short, the album still continues the style and atmosphere of the previous album, 18 Months (2012). Pop-dominated material meets Motion to the full. Not only Blame with John Newman or Outside is a collaboration with Ellie Goulding, but the album also provides similar tracks, such as Together featuring Gwen Stefani or Dollar Sign with Tinashe that might make Ariana Grande shout, "This song should be for me! "
Blame sounds like I Need Your Love combined with Where Been You Been. But that does not mean bad. On the contrary. Harris makes sure pop and EDM are the right dough for Blame to draw our attention to her. Being Outside is not a repetition of I Need Your Love. Still catchy. Still EDM and Pop. Still relying on the typical Goulding vocals. But their collaboration now sounds more mature with the more established Progressive House arrangement by marginalizing the cheesy hook, and choosing a more "heavy" beat and meeting.
Inviting one of the pop legends like Gwen Stefani is one of the tricks for the name of Harris more magnificent among the laity. Together put forward the singer as the spearhead and made the song as a sweet pop seductive thanks to Stefani's distinctive vocals. Interestingly Harris is not forgotten to bring the musical style musicians he invited to work together, such as Pray to God that smells Pop Alternative thanks to the presence of Haim.
Harris also invites some of his colleagues in the EDM realm to help him. Then there are the rising names, Ummet Ozcan, Firebeatz, and R3hab, each of which is present in overdrive tracks, It Was You, and Burnin, all of which are intense and antemic Electro House. Previously there was already Under Control, which is the result of his collaboration with Alesso.
Progressive House is still the foundation of the song while the pop becomes a layer on the surface. In the vocal section they invite the duo Hurts to fill it. Interesting, because Hurts usually bring songs that tend to gloomy and dark, but now must appear with energetic follow the song. Under Control is currently an anthem that is certainly familiar to EDM or Pop lovers.
Well, unlike Under Control, then tracks like Overdrive, It Was You or Burnin earlier, which will meet the tastes of the purists who think Calvin Harris too play safe lately. With an intense and thrilling Electro beat, minus vocals, Harris brings EDM in its most functional figure. These tracks are an exhibition of soundtracking skills and synth processing templates, drums and bass, almost uncompromising on the necessity to perform easy listening.
Oh yes, for the curious where the run of C.U.B.A., another Electro track that Harris had previously released, do not worry, because now he morphed into Open Wide. There is no significant difference except the addition of rap from Big Sean. Even so, it is difficult to dispel the question, why Harris did not let this track remain C.U.B.A. rather than turn it into an Open Wide that obviously has greater market potential, but is less assertive in displaying Harris's artistic side.
Gratitude Harris dare to accentuate tracks like Slow Acid who tried to repeat the glorious Acid House that once was popular in the era of the 90s. In his hands this song sounds fresh and modern without having to betray its essence.
Motion Differences with 18 Months is where each track is done with more mature precision. Have not rid of the trend Progressive House and Electro current and also Pop indeed, but each track comes strong and can stand on its own. The album was barely a dull filler break, as it was usually in Harris's previous albums.
Overall, Motion may not be a starlet of Harris's early albums, I Created Disco (2007) and Ready for the Weekend (2009). The two albums have material with different tones from either Motion or 18 Months that pursue the mainstream realm as the target. Only, the mature packaging makes this album so interesting, it is difficult to avoid charm. And proves why Harris is still a figure of today's leading EDM musicians.
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