Album Review - Labrinth: Electronic Earth

Labrinth
Electronic Earth
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Signed to Simon Cowell's Syco Music label, UK producer Labrinth releases his debut Electronic Earth, which is another attempt at merging pop music with hip-hop/dubstep/EDM. The critical question when it comes to albums like this is whether the album is too pop, alienating the hardcore EDM fans, or is it too EDM heavy, alienating the mainstream audience, or does it hit that sweet spot where it can appeal to both equally? Here, we get a bit off all three. The album is definitely too pop for most hardcore fans of dubstep/EDM and there are a few moments of edginess that might make mainstream listeners shy away. But when that perfect blend of both hits, it is almost perfect.

Lead track "Climb On Board" uses a skittering drum and bass beat under piano trills and laser-effect keyboards, Labrinth showcasing his earthy pipes.



"Sweet Riot" is the perfect marriage of pounding drum programming, wailing guitars, and swirling keyboards.



Single "Last Time" is a brash slab of electro-house, Labrinth's voice raging over a throbbing pulse of synthesizers.



And "Earthquake," a collaboration with Tinie Timpah, is a delicious mess of hip-hop rhythms, dubstep bass, whirring synths, and playful back and forth between vocalists. Labrinth even manages to throw a nod to boss Simon Cowell.



But the ties to Simon Cowell seems to be what prevents the album from really taking off. Too often, the songs seem to be made via committee, made to add pop songs and ballads in order to appeal to a wider demographic. And there is nothing wrong per se with these tracks, they just lose their luster when surrounded by other, more distinctive tracks. "Beneath Your Beautiful," a duet with Emeli Sande, attempts to mask what is quite honestly some American Idol/Christina Aguilera reject with dubstep wubz.



"Let The Sun Shine" is a perfectly pleasant pop single, but it doesn't sound any different from any other track out there on Top 40 radio,



while "Treatment" tries to amp up some guitars to give the track a poppy-punk sheen,



and "Express Yourself" even attempts a James Brown/60s funk vibe, but it comes across more as pastiche than homage.



Electronic Earth is not a bad album; there are no outright horrors here, just a few missteps that make the album a little more generic than it should be. All of the pieces are here for a great album in the future. Labrinth just needs to get out from under the corporate shadow.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.