Review of Kaskades 'Atmosphere' Album

Atmosphere Album Review

Kaskade's New Album is More of The Same

     Kaskade is one the definitive EDM superstars, and has been producing and DJing for longer than most of his fans have been alive. This isn't a bad thing, as Kaskade has time in and time out produced absolutely stunning electronic tapestries for his listeners. He also isn't half bad at live mixing, but that's a different subject all together.

      'Atmosphere' is Kaskade's newest foray into love house and downtempo seductive beats. It has it's moments, but sounds like a very crash revisit to 2008's 'Strobelight Seduction', but without the warm emotion that SS featured. I will be going through song by song given a brief review of each tune, so lets start from the top.

1. Last Chance (Feat. Project 46) - The opening track will sound very familiar to any Kaskade fan, and is a typical sound one can expect with Kaskade. It's not a bad thing, but the track features very generic buildups, and lyrics, which only hinders it's ability to separate itself from any other song on the album. 3/5

2. Why Ask Why (Feat. Late Night Alumni) - Unfortunately the addition of the Late Night Alumni doesn't bolster this songs ability. Combined with a constant 128 bpm, the song falters out of the gate, and minus the breakdown mid way, it falls flat. 2/5

3. MIA To LAS - This tune harkens back to Kaskade's deep house days, but unfortunately sounds very dated without enough changes in an already generic beat. I found myself skipping this tune after one listen. 1/5

4. No One Knows Who We Are (Feat. LIGHTS) (Kaskade's Atmosphere Mix) - The original version of this song was released sometime last year, and was an instant classic. This acoustic and symphonic rendition of it is the highlight of the entire album. It is absolutely beautiful and is extremely full sounding, especially the (now) prominent vocals leading the track. The piano work, symphonic cord changes, and song construction are top notch. 5/5

5. Feeling The Night (Feat. Becky Jean Williams) - As with 'Last Chance', Feeling The Night is very generic, and there isn't much to really say about this tune. It's listenable, but not a standout by any standard. 3/5

6. Take Your Mind Off - As with the third track on this album, this tune reverts back to Kaskade's deep house roots, and is repetitive but also very melancholic in a relaxed 120bpm. Great for a cocktail party, but not much else. 3/5

7. LAX To JFK - As with track three, this tune has a very Tron feel throughout, and is actually one of the more interesting tunes on the album. Definitely play this one through, and take in all the switches and breaks, interesting listen if anything else. 4/5

8. Atmosphere - The title track of the album is also it's best true EDM song. Kaskade provides the vocals himself, and does a fantastic job with the cord changes. The pacing, and production values are fantastic, and Atmosphere holds up it's end of the bargain being the title track. 5/5

9. Missing You (Feat. School Of Seven Bells) - The majority of the song is an attempted buildup that features a very disappointing drop. Coupled with very mediocre lyrics, leaves the song at the bottom of the pack. 1/5

10. Something Something (Feat. Zip Zip Through The Night) - One of the more melancholic songs on the album, and unlike the others it doesn't stick to just one tempo. The song has a fantastic switch in tempo and pacing at around the 2 minute mark, and closes strong. Worth the listen! 4/5

11. SFO To ORD - The last of the what I'm dubbing the "Terminal Songs," It places second to only LAX To JFK, and is a very steady tempo with enough breaks to keep it interesting throughout. Feels like a throwback to the deep house of the mid 90's, as with the other Terminal Songs. 3/5

12. Floating (Feat. Haley) - Kaskade always features Haley on his albums, and she doesn't disappoint. This bass-less beauty is something I would expect listening too on a rainy day while thinking about the world. Like the Atmosphere rendition of Nobody Knows Who We Are, this songs greatness lies in it's minimalism. 5/5

13. How It Is (Feat. Debra Fotheringham) - The album closes with another trademark Kaskade sounding record. How It Is features great vocals from Debra Fotheringham, and a fantastic piano backing. Not the strongest song on the record, but definitely one of the better. 4/5

     Overall, Kaskade's new effort brings more of the same that fans have come to expect. This brings mixed results, but with a little less than half of the album being fantastic, I would recommend buying songs individually for the casual listener. However if you follow Kaskade, I'd recommend the entire album as you will enjoy the bulk of it despite it's faults. Overall 3.5/5

Fun Fact:

Kaskade originally started as deep house and techno before transitioning to his current sound in the mid 2000's.


Images From:
-http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/o678/houseplanetdj/Kaskade_zps3757059c.jpg
-http://thissongissick.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaskade-Atmosphere-artwork.jpg

All-Nighters & Studying

  Studious Electro - The Managed Risk

     Before I got big into the dance scene that is currently associated with EDM, I was always a bigger fan of the downtempo, and gentle sounding electronic music. I had come to a realization in the Spring of 2013 that all mixtapes were identical in regards to the style of music, and the pacing. I began looking for a different foray into creating a live-set, and had the answer was in plain sight. I decided to take to the decks and combine two things that go hand in hand for me, music and studying.

DJuiced - Mixing program used during creation of The Managed Risk
Hercules DJ Control Air - Controller used for mixing

     Since middle school, I have always listened to music while studying or doing homework. It helps me focus my thoughts, and stimulates my creativity. I made the decision that the next live-set would be something that I would enjoy studying too, and starting compiling a list of tracks that I would listen too while doing school work. They were pulled from all ends of the EDM world, mostly obscure and underground tracks with the incorporation of a few familiar tracks for the casual listener.

     This second live-mix, The Managed Risk, which I made back in May, was the culmination of a lifetime of; learning, studying, and doing school work. It also is one of the most technically sound sets I have ever had the pleasure of putting together. To this day, it still holds up with my newer and more lavish sets, and does so in a completely different way. The mix features transitions and mashups of many different sub-genres within the EDM scene, ranging from: Trance, Progressive, Love-Dubstep, Nu-Disco and even a beautiful acoustic mix. The Managed Risk utilizes many transitional styles, and has beautiful flow and blending.

    The Managed Risk is also the first time the audience is introduced to my now iconic, "Charles," a computer generated MC that introduces my sets, and adds little quips throughout, all of which is done by myself. The mix features a few effects that were done using an infrared sensor that controlled the amount of effect just by waving my hand over a sensor. For those that enjoy The Managed Risk, a new study mixtape is currently in the works, and will be a full-length hour set instead of the 30 minute set seen here.



Fun Fact:

The Managed Risk was my second mixtape, and was made during finals week Spring 2013 to help FAU students and friends study, and to this day is used by many to do such. Also is the only set to include a fully acoustic track!


Pictures From:
- http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/hercules-dj-control-air-296942.jpg
- http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/GhH-l7xEDb8/maxresdefault.jpg

Dropping the Bass

Breaking Down Modern Day Dance Music Pt.1

     One of the most common phrases to hear in modern day dance music is, "Drop the Bass!" The phrase has been around since the early acid house days during the middle of the 1990's, and has made the rounds from the underground scene to modern day EDM. The act of "dropping the bass," is done by; bringing out the bass frequencies in a song, building the tempo, creating a buildup that is then directly climaxed with a sudden entrance of a lower, louder, and deeper bass frequency. The end result is rather spectacular to witness in person, and is aurally pleasing. 

7:23-9:46 Example of a couple bass drops from Fatboy Slim @ Ultra 2013

     Many genres of electronic dance music, if not all, at some point during the breaks in the song use a buildup into a bass drop. However, the phrase as it's known today is more directly correlated with Dubstep and Trap music, two genres that utilize heavy bass frequencies to a much larger extent then their House, Trance, and Progressive cousins.
Not to say the other genres do not use bass drops, they do, but just not to the extent Dubstep and Trap do.


Who Am I by Wizard (Trap)

     Our example above, Who Am I by Wizard is a great example of bass drops and their usages in Trap music. The first or initial drop consists of merely a buildup and introduction of the bass frequency with cut vocal samples of the song Sweet Dreams by Eurthmics, giving the listener a basic outline of the track. Later, 808's are added to the song to build depth. At :54 the listener is introduced to the first break with the bass cut, and emphasis put on the vocals. The ensuing buildup climaxes at 1:15 with a bass drop with the 808's added from the start giving the song it's first big drop. Now lets take a look at Dubstep.

Internet Friends VIP by Knife Party

     Internet Friends by Knife Party is one of the best known Dubstep songs in part to it's angry girlfriend introduction, but also because it features one of the best drops of the past few years. Cue Internet Friends VIP, which is a re-edited version of the song in which Knife Party added a few more tricks to an already fantastic dubstep song. From 1:50 to 1:57 the listener is treated with a substantially fast buildup, followed by a monumental drop. However, on the second drop of the song is where things take an interesting turn. From 3:00 to 3:48 the song goes into a cue changing break, and on the second buildup the tempo is adjusted to reflect that. The song starts at 128 bpm and goes into 140 bpm seamlessly transitioning genres, and the listener is treated to a dubstep/trap infusion that brings a new meaning to dropping the bass!

     As the genres continue to evolve, one trend is certain to keep up, and that is dropping the bass. It's become a mainstay in modern electronic dance music, and producers and DJ's alike will only find better and more intense ways to drop the bass! Just be sure to hold on, because things might get heavy!

Fun Fact:

Dubstep originated from heavy metal groups, who used heavy percussion and breaks within their songs to create a dark, bass-heavy sound! Drum and Bass and Moombathon also played a large part in the development of dubstep!

Putting Needle to Vinyl

The Initial Live-Mix - The Risky Mix

     Dating back to the middle of the nineties, I have always been intrigued by mashups, electronic music, and Dj's. The notion of being able to manipulate music in ways that presents new sounds with pre-existing songs is highly sophisticated, and interesting. When else can Hall and Oates be layered with a 128bpm (beats per minute) drumline, and heavy synth cords? With a multitude of digital mixing programs available on the market today, and controllers specifically designed to utilize them, it's becoming much more accessible to learn and produce your own tracks!

Hercules DJ Control Air - Used during creation of The Risky Mix

     Fast forward to today. I am no longer the 8-year-old kid listening to electronic legends; Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk, and Aphex Twin mixing sets together, but instead a 22-year-old young man creating and mixing my own. It all began as just a passion that grew into much more as I self taught and learned the basic mechanics of mixing. That, combined with excellent music choice and vast knowledge in the EDM (electronic dance music) world, has allowed me to do more then I ever imagined.

     This first live-mix, The Risky Mix, which I made back in April, was the culmination of over a years hard work of; learning, teaching, and tweaking my mixing methods. Today it sounds crude in comparison to my newer and more refined mixes, but it still holds a special place in my DJing timeline. The mix features transitions and mashups of six different genres within the EDM scene, ranging from: Trap, House, Disco, Dubstep, Progressive, and Trance, and utilizes many transitional styles.

DJuiced - Mixing program used during creation of The Risky Mix

     It has it's faults, but for a first attempt, it represents a milestone and an accomplishment for my dedication and effort in the art of mixing. At the time of writing, it has garnered over 550 plays and has accumulated 178 downloads. It also isn't the standard hour-long set that is a mainstay in my current DJing, but instead represented my talent ability at the time.



Fun Fact:

The title, "The Risky Mix," comes from my previous position of Director of Risk Management within my fraternity Delta Tau Delta. I would always refer to things of enjoyment or rowdyness as "risky", thus the trend of naming my mixes after conjugations of the word risk!


Pictures From:
- http://images.junostatic.com/full/IS443577-01-01-BIG.jpg
- http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/GhH-l7xEDb8/maxresdefault.jpg