Page 44 - WRY-Magazine-April-2024

EDITORIAL > 10 ELECTRONIC DEBUT ALBUMS THAT MADE AN IMPACT
Disclosure - Settle
Released: 3 June, 2013
UK duo Howard and Guy Lawrence had a lot of success in the lead
up to, and following the release of their debut album in the summer
of 2013. Tipped for big things in the years before its release, ‘Settle’
arrived as a culmination of incredible collaborations, as the pair
drafted in features such as Sam Smith for ‘Latch’, Eliza Doolittle for
‘You & Me’ and AlunaGeorge for ‘White Noise’ among many more.
Upon release, the LP was met with critical acclaim, climbing album
charts worldwide. It received a Grammy nomination in the same
year and has since achieved Platinum status in both the UK and
Australia.
Porter Robinson - Worlds
Released: 12 August, 2014
Porter Robinson went against the grain in 2014, introducing new,
and expansive ideas to a saturated dance music market with
his debut album ‘Worlds’. In the lead up to its full release, the
American offered up singles ‘Sad Machine’, ‘Lionhearted’, ‘Flicker’
and ‘Sea of Voices’, which would all go on to feature on the LP. This
was to be his only album for 7 years, drawing in industry acclaim
for its unprecedented direction, and the unique approach in its
production. Many in the industry claim that this album opened
up many new stylistic avenues for artists to explore, with ‘Worlds’
undoubtedly inspiring artists that followed.
Justice - Cross
Released: 11 June, 2007
Justice are champions of gritty Electro House, with their debut
album, ‘Cross’, a culmination of all their early ideas as a pair, with
‘Genesis’, ‘D.A.N.C.E’ and ‘Phantom’ all highlights. Released in the
summer of 2007, it is hailed as a musical mosaic of sorts in the way
it draws upon various samples from other influential artists, the
likes of Queen, 50 Cent, Madonna, Prince and Britney Spears. ‘Cross’
went on to be nominated for a handful of Grammy Awards and
has inspired many other esteemed artists due to its ingenuity and
innovation, the likes of Zedd for example.
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Pendulum - Hold Your Colour
Released: 25 July, 2005
Each electronic sub-genre has its figureheads, and Australian
Drum and Bass outfit Pendulum were certainly that for the scene
throughout the 2000’s. The debut studio album ‘Hold Your Colour’
certainly paved the way for a growing movement, brandishing
popular recordings, the likes of ‘Slam’, ‘Tarantula’, and ‘Hold Your
Colour’. An LP that featured collaborations with Fresh & TC, the LP
was reissued 2 years later with the addition of tracks ‘Blood Sugar’
and ‘Axel Grinder’. Since its initial release, it has gone on to become
one of the best selling drum and bass albums of all time, and still
holds immense relevancy to this day.
Illenium - Ashes
Released: 15 February, 2016
Since his arrival on the scene, Illenium has become something of a
tastemaker, garnering a sizable movement within the remit of bass
and melodic dubstep. Some of his earliest music remains his most
iconic, with the likes of ‘Reverie’, ‘I’ll Be Your Reason’ and ‘Afterlife’
resonating with masses to this day having featured on his debut
album, ‘Ashes’. Dropped at the start of 2016, it featured numerous
collaborations, and saw him take bass music in a new direction
with his uplifting style of production catching on quickly. The album
makes up one LP of three regarded as the original trilogy that has
taken him to the summit of the scene.
Calvin Harris - I Created Disco
Released: 15 June, 2007
Even the industry’s elite had to start somewhere, ‘I Created Disco’
being that for the now-acclaimed DJ and producer Calvin Harris.
Back when he more explicitly featured as vocalist on his tracks, he
released his debut album in mid-2007, which he produced in his
home studio. Prior to the full release, he led with two singles which
have gone on to become some of his most popular tracks to date in
‘Acceptable in the 80s’ and ‘The Girls’. There is no doubt the success
of the album catapulted him to superstardom, and in becoming the
undeniably influential figure that he is today.
Skream! - Skream!
Released: 30 October, 2006
A trailblazer for the original developments within the dubstep scene,
Skream! has always created the right noises at the right times. In
2006, the release of his self-titled album ‘Skream!’ brought with it the
opportunity to innovate, bridging the gap between nostalgic rave and
contemporary dance and pop. The resulting LP contributed to the very
fabric of early dubstep. Channelling groundbreaking ideas through
tracks like ‘Midnight Request Line’, ‘Rutten’ and ‘Summer Dreams’, he
forged the foundations upon which the likes of Rusko and Skrillex would
build upon years later. Not only that, but he gave himself a platform
upon which he has established a stellar career.
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