Deadmau5 – While(1<2)

25^th June 2014

Keira Trethowan

Keira Trethowan

25 June 2014

Joel Zimmerman has been gracing the Electro House genre for a little under a decade now. He’s collaborated with massively popular artists, such as Gerard Way, Wolfgang Gartner and Skrillex – and has created landmark tunes that you’ll no doubt be familiar with. So, why does the name Joel Zimmerman sound so alien to you? That’ll be due to the fact that the artist is mostly recognised by his stage name, Deadmau5. All of this considered, he is an artist who has never besmirched his genre, and therefore, the hype for his new album While(1<2) has been colossal. But has this ardent anticipation been worthwhile? Let’s delve straight in and find out.

The album consists of a staggering 16 tracks, which vary spectacularly in substance, sound and feeling. Creep is a slow and stirring track, which is profoundly reliant upon the beautiful resonance of the piano. In comparison to this though, Avaritia is a fast-paced, typical house-style track that will be gyrating through most clubs before too long. Likewise, the same can be said for Phantoms Can’t Hang, which is quite effortless in its sound, but produces a beguiling and addictive impression. However, most of the remaining tracks sound rather weak in comparison and certainly lack substance. So yes, it is wonderful for an album to contain 16 tracks, but the phase “quality over quantity” certainly springs to mind upon listening to While(1<2).

Naturally, the record also contains a number of collaborations with singing artists – because who honestly just wants an album crammed full of instrumental tracks? Seeya features Colleen D’Agostino and is assuredly the gem upon the album, despite sounding quite similar to something that Daft Punk could have conjured up. Other collaborations are with the legendary Nine Inch Nails, and a group named How to Destroy Angels. However, both tracks seem to be missing something and a glistening, chart-ascending future for them doesn’t seem particularly probable.

All in all, as expected, the album is crisp, somewhat inventive and fantastically produced, but unfortunately that’s where the majority of the accolades conclude. Yes, there are a few songs that will undoubtedly soar through the charts, but there are also a vast number of tracks that will never see the light of day – and certainly don’t deserve to either. Come on, Deadmau5, you can do better than this!

Keira Trethowan

While(1<2) is released on 17^th June 2014. To order the album visit Deadmau5’s website here.

Watch the video for Seeya feat. Colleen D’Agostino here: