Review: Dedication -Zomby

The upcoming release from Zomby, a Brit producer of dubstep and Eskibeat, is full of electro beats and beeps. The album, Dedication, isn’t a far jump from his previous works but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The cold, almost gothic overtone on the album is welcomed change from the constant pounding from the likes of groups such as Crystal Castles. Not to say the record can’t hold its own among this new era of electronic music. While the album relies on the simpler state of things, it has moments of high energy and bits of nostalgia for the ‘90s rave scene.

The album’s sixteen tracks flow with a cinematic drama about them. The earlier tunes, “Natalia’s Song” and “Witch Hunt” are slower, setting the mood for what’s to come. It’s almost as if the listener is entering a haunted house complete with cathedral-esque echoes. From then on, tracks like “Vortex” and “Digital Rain” completely amplify the record to its climax. It’s high heart-rate, accessible dance music that could be played alongside anything to create a new, musical atmosphere.

As a conclusion, Zomby returns to a mellow lucidity with tracks like “Haunted” ,which is driven by what sounds like violins accompanied by a piano, and “Mozaik” ,which sounds like ending credits to a video game. What’s great about the end of the record is that it feels whole –as if it perfectly punctuated Zomby’s every thought.

While the album may be an acquired taste for some, it’s worth listening to. In the United States, at least, dubstep and “rave” music have been pigeon-holed as having to contain heavy bass and the same, repetitious set of keys and synths. With Dedication, the “genre” is more artistically crafted rather than slapped on due to sonic appeal. **8.3/10