Rating:
* * *
Major Lazer is the pairing of production gurus Diplo and Switch - two forward-thinking bright sparks striving for the next big thing not only in dance music but music in general.
They hunkered down at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong recording studio in Kingston, Jamaica, to record this blitz of 13 rebellious dancehall and reggae tracks with 18 guest MCs and vocalists.
Though there are tunes that lower the tone, like the ineffectual reggae pap of
Cash Flow
and bouncy Barbie-doll dancehall of
Keep It Goin Louder
, it only slightly overshadows the brilliance of tracks like the canning factory clatter of
When You Hear the Bassline
and
Hold the Line
with its
Apache
-meets-
Surf Rider
riff, punishing jittery beats, neighing horses, and New York vocalist Santogold's unique dancehall salvo.
A beautiful reprieve comes on the wholesome skank of
Can't Stop Now
and they are at their most inventive on
Baby
, with its odd auto-tune instrumental and Prince Zimboo cleverly rhyming spectacle with testicle.
The bottom line is to get essential tracks like
Hold The Line
and
Can't Stop Now
on your iPod this minute, turn it up, and then get along and see the dynamic duo play at Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne over New Year.
Scott Kara
'It is a project that was of great importance to Malcolm.'