They’re one of the most technically gifted acts in EDM, but Hybrid have not released an album since I Choose Noise. They’re highly respectable, preferring to use genuine Orchestras instead of synths, and Disappear Here adds to this with the inclusion of a third band member alongside Mike Truman and Chris Healings. Charlotte James is a singer songwriter and adds her vocals to tracks such as “Can You Hear Me”, a shining moment for Charlotte; combining her powerful vocals with soaring strings and the bass playing of Tim Hutton (Ian Brown, The Prodigy). “Green Shell Suit” is chill out at its absolute best, and “Every Word” brings a soothing, warm natural feel with the combination of a haunting slide guitar, soulful acoustic and wonky. imaginative but playful sound design. The stadium electronica of “Formula of Fear” is like an orgasmic explosion in the ears and presents one of the album’s most intense highs. Onwards, “Salt” is stuffed full of warped bass lines and brush drums, whereas “Original Sin” is a monster of a track with a huge, cinematic feel to it. “Take A Fall” features a metal-breaks edge with Tim Hutton providing vocals. Hybrid then presents the album’s first single “Break My Soul.” A masterful mash-up of triumphant chorus and powerful strings to a deep powerful bass line.
Speaking about the additional band member, Chris Healings comments that; “This album offers a lot more than anything we’ve managed to write in the past. Charlotte comes from that singer/songwriter/performer world and she really inspired us to write something much more song based. Working so much with her we feel like there’s a feeling of going somewhere else or doing something that will last longer in a live capacity. The music definitely reflects our desire to be a band but firmly rooted in dance music.”
Hybrid is planning a full live tour this summer in support of Disappear Here.
http://www.hybridsoundsystem.com/
Chris Lake is one of our favourite producers. Though, since the Markus Schossow incident we lost a huge amount of respect for Deadmau5, who would have done well to have simply kept quiet about the whole business, instead of managing single handedly to offend almost every DJ & Producer on the planet.Needless to say, much like we hate other successes who air a certain arrogance (think Chelsea FC, Didier Drogba, Apple Inc et al) you can’t really deny obvious talent and we do appreciate The Mau5. This is his second collaboration with Chris Lake, and is a more minimal, techy affair. It’s a good groove but not enough of a departure from previous tracks to really make us excited. If you look for the Michael Woods remix however, things get a bit more interesting, and the pops and squeaks actually lead to a decent drop into a more spine tingling groove. Good stuff…but not quite revolutionary. “i said” is out now on Mau5 Trap records.
