Possibly the most hyped electronic release of the year thus far, “Free the Universe” poses a mighty challenge to producer Thomas Pentz, otherwise known as Diplo, as his first effort (under the Jamaican dancehall pseudonym Major Lazer) without fellow producer Switch. However, don’t think for a second that this is reflected in the music; Major Lazer’s second offering easily outdoes his first, displaying both versatility and a stunningly original style that mixes a slew of reggae, Latin and dance genres with ease.
The album begins with “You’re No Good,” whose initial lulling intro is split open by an abrupt shriek that drops into classic reggaeton jabber and yearning female vocals over the soft march of percussion. Potent melodic interplay abounds, and the track’s atmosphere lingers tangibly as it stutters to an end. With no time to spare, the album’s first dance tune “Jet Blue Jet” kicks the album into high gear, and the repeating vocal line lays down a syncopated rhythm under a staccato chromatic synth line. Foot tapping and head nodding, the listener slides easily into “Get Free,” which floats in lazily over a slow backbeat and the perfectly suited voice of Amber Coffman, lead singer of the band Dirty Projectors.
This brings us to the first thing the Major does so right on this record; he really utilizes each guest artist to the fullest. This exceptional ability can be seen in the soft ska he lays down for Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, or the appropriately “bubbly” hip hop beat of “Bubble Butt” that sways comfortably under Bruno Mars and Tyga’s measured (and occasionally bilingual) flow. The sheer variation in genre and soundscape found on this release is nothing short of incredible, and cuts like “Watch Out for This,” which incorporate snazzy horns and Latin samba, and “Sweat,” with bare thumping Afro-Cuban bassline, stand as a huge testament to this.
The simple fact that this level of musicality and diversity can even be discussed in an electronic release says more about the unabashed ambition and innovation Major Lazer brings to this genre of music than careful dissection ever could. With “Free the Universe,” Major Lazer/Diplo has set a bold standard for the ingenuity that can be expected from modern techno music. (9/10)
