Zimmerman hasn’t totally abandoned the raver of yesteryear, launching the album with his signature electro-whips on “Subliminal” and Wimbledon-worthy synth volleys of “Channel 42”. The shortest track on the release at 4:12, “Sleepless” (which is a dramatic edit of 2010’s “Sleeping Beauty Pills”) includes the most powerful message: “In the end we are nowhere/ sleepless and still and tight…the only thing I want is the last thing I need/ Awake and sleepless as stars shine.” The celestial undertones are amplified by “Closer”, which utilizes the alien communication notes of Close Encounters of the Third Kind to put listeners in touch with other sentient beings. In comparison, “October” is angelic, focusing on an uplifting vibe that could fit seamlessly on an upcoming episode of Armin Van Buuren’s A State of Trace.Īlthough he’s against producing his tracks live, it is easy to imagine the walking bassline and jazz-influenced drums of “Sleepless” with an actual backing band. “Take Care of The Proper Paperwork” is seven minutes of depraved tech-house, with beats ripped from a dank German nightclub of 1994 and given a quick electro makeover by the mau5. Alongside months of self-promotion leading up to the release of >album title goes herealbum title goes herealbum title goes here< still has the potential to draw police officers to your doorstep, depending on the decibel level and kindness of your neighbors.
The mau5 has been highly vocal on the transition of dance music since Rolling Stone tagged 2012 the year of the “Dance Dance Revolution” on its February cover.
You have to give it to Joel Zimmerman, aka deadmau5: The producer never lets grammar get in the way of online rants, let alone the naming of his albums.