Album review: Calvin Harris

TimeOut·

6 Jul, 2017 01:53 AM2 mins to read

Calvin Harris performs at his album launch party. Photo / Getty Images

Not all albums are meant to change someone's life, some albums are just for fun - this is one of those albums and it does its job well.

Funk Wav Bounces Vol 1 is very much made for summer afternoons around the barbecue.

It's easily digestible pop/funk bolstered by the street cred of its featured artists, making it a something-for-everyone release.

The production is simple yet strong and is a new (and very welcome) direction for Calvin Harris as he departs from his usual EDM style to join the funk revival.

Frank Ocean and Migos hit a homerun on the smooth and silky Slide, and Schoolboy Q, PartyNextDoor and Dram bring some upbeat hip-hop to the banger that is Cash Out at the top of the album.

Lyrically, whereas most of the album's material is - predictably - about partying and living the high life, Kehlani and Jessie Reyez do manage to switch things up with some insights about heartbreak from opposite sides of the coin at the end of the album.

Funk Wav is a fun listen full of hits, but the one problem is that a lot of the album is carried by its featured artists; a line-up that also includes Young Thug, Pharrell, Ariana Grande, Future, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Travis Scott and more, giving even DJ Khaled a run for his money as far as starpower's concerned.

So we're left wondering how much of this album's success will actually be down to Harris and how many of these songs will actually be remembered as his.