By William Ruben Helms

Lazerproof

Major Lazer and La Roux
Lazerproof

For those of you who may be unfamiliar, last year, the British-based electropop/synthpop outfit La Roux, comprised of singer/keyboardist/co-writer/co-producer Eleanor Jackson and keyboardist/co-writer/co-producer Ben Langmaid released a self-titled album heavily influenced by 80s synthpop acts such as Erasure, early-Depeche Mode, The Human League and Heaven 17. Although I was admittedly, a bit unfamiliar with their actual sound, I do remember reading about them in several publications such as NME, the New York Press and others. From what I can remember, critics raved about them – and based on this album (which I’ll get into in a little bit), I can definitely understand why. Major Lazer, is a collaborative project between DJs/producers Diplo and Switch who were introduced to each other after working with M.I.A.; Diplo and Switch both produced tracks on M.I.A’s amazing Kala. Adding to the internationalist feel, Major Lazer as a collaborative unit has worked with artists such as Santigold, dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel, Amanda Blank and others. Lazerproof featuring La Roux is actually a remix of tracks from La Roux’s 2009 debut, La Roux.

If you know anything about remixes, there are usually two sorts of remixes – those that offer a mere reinterpretation of the artist’s song or work and those that create a bold, amazing new sound which hasn’t been heard before. As a quick example, Beck released a Guerolito, a remix album based on tracks from Guero and although the album is a decent album, the remixes don’t jibe into a cohesive vision in my opinion – mainly because there are too many producers remixing a track or two here and there. But check out the North Mississippi All Stars’ Electric Blue Watermelon: Screwed and Chopped EP which came out in 2005 or so and is based on their Electric Blue Watermelon album. Sonically, the Houston scene’s screwed and chopped sound with instrumentation is something you’ve never heard before. And what Major Lazer does that’s strikingly similar to that great North Mississippi All Stars EP is create something that I haven’t heard in some time. In fact, when I first played the tracks on my battered old iPod, the genre mashing between straight forward pop, electronica, dub, hip hop reggae and techno instantly reminded me of the first time I heard Gorillaz’s self-titled debut – yes, for a somewhat jaded critic I was impressed. The first three tracks effortlessly slide from techno-based reggae to dub and then to club-based hip hop. All are rooted in thumping bass, twinkling keys in the background and buzzing synthesizers. Diplo and Switch also throw in odd radio-sounding promos thrown into songs such as “Houstatlantavegas Pains” which reminded me of listening to DJs Red Alert and Kid Capri on Kiss FM and WLBS back in the day. To be fair, Eleanor Jackson’s voice sounds a lot like most club divas – it isn’t much to write home about and seemed both familiar and difficult to place.

I’m not a fan of a ton of guest spots but on Lazerproof, Candi Redd’s guest spot rapping a chorus on “Independent Kill” is hilarious and totally perfect for Dirty South hip hop which has been a very guilty pleasure of mine for a while. “Can’t Stop” reminded me a bit of Color Me Badd’s “I Wanna Sex You Up” but slowed down to a tempo you can wine and grind reggae style at the club while “Quicksand” adds much more overtly sexual tones as Amanda Blank sings braggadocio lyrics about how amazing her pussy is. Like the rest of the album, it’s hot, sweaty, at times wild and depraved just like a night at the club should be. I will say this, I’m throwing this on my list for best albums this year – it’s an amazing, playful exercise in genre mashing that’s dance and club ready.

Release Date May 26, 2010

[EDITOR'S NOTE: ALBUM IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE HERE]

Track Listing:
1 . Bulletproof (Nacey Remix featuring Matt Hemerlein)
2 . Colourless Artibella
3 . I’m Not Your Lemonade and Heroes ‘n Villians Remix featuring Gucci Mane
4 . Independent Kill featuring Candi Redd
5 . Keep It Fascinating
6 . Magic (Falling Soldiers Dub)
7 . In 4 The Kill Pon De Skream
8 . Houstatlantavegas Pains featuring Drake
9 . Tigerlily (DYWHAP Blend) featuring Rusko
1 0 .Can’t Stop Now (Armor Love Remix)
1 1 .Quicksand (Mad Decent 2010 Rerub) featuring Amanda Blank
1 2 .Cover My Eyes (Costra Nostra Remix)
1 3 .I Said It (Major Lazer Dubplate) featuring Opal
1 4 .Hold Yuh (Double Dubplate) featuring Gyptian