Album review: Skrillex & Diplo Present, Jack U

Diplo and Skrillex.

One can only imagine the mess of broken subwoofers and energy drinks greeting visitors to a studio housing both Diplo and Skrillex.

The production brains combine their bass addictions on Jack U, a first full collaboration that comes with an A-list guest roster of talent.

It's a bonkers brain thwack of a thing, designed to soundtrack both high-energy gym classes and drug-laden Ibiza nightclubs.

It's better when it draws its influences from Major Lazer's sweaty, Jamaican-influenced back catalogue than Skrillex's scary dubstep attitude, like the fast-paced drops of Jungle Bae and Beats Knockin, or Keisza's shrilly turn on Take U There that turns into a Yeezus-style hip-hop grunter.

Sure, it's not for everyone: if you're not shouting along with rapper 2Chainz on the brilliantly stupid chorus of Febreze - "Yeah, I'm the shit, I should have Febreze on it!" - you're probably covering your head with pillows.

And Holla Out sounds like an argument between an Autobot and a Decepticon.

But amid this cacophony there are occasional moments of sanity. You can almost hear the groans when Justin Bieber makes his first on-record appearance in a year on Where Are U. But it's a subtle electro highlight that's not only listenable - it actually makes Bad Boy Beebs kind of enjoyable.

If they never work together again, that's a pretty good epitaph for Skrillex and Diplo to go out on.

Artist: Skrillex & Diplo Present
Album: Jack U
Label: Warner Music
Verdict: Bassheads mean business with mindmelting mash-up

- TimeOut