Skrillex - Bangarang EP

Posted on Dec 23, 2011 in Bangers, Brand New, Compilation Album, DubStep, Electro

Just in time for the holiday weekend, Skrillex has unleashed his fourth studio EP, “Bangarang”. I know as some of you read the name Skrillex, you are instantaneously cast into a hysteric rage, while others may be curling their toes in near-orgasmic bliss. The opinion chasm between haters and lovers of The Prince of Dubstep is verging on religious levels and the amount of politicized bullshit surrounding the young artist has reached an exorbitant height. As such, I’m going to try to keep this as refined as possible.

“Bangarang” is a good album, plain and simple. It is in no way a perfect piece of work, but it delivers on every element that a Skrillex fan would desire. Appropriately titled, the opening track takes you “Right In” to this whirlwind of bass music. This track is nothing new per se (a point coincidentally illuminated by one of the record’s vox samples – “It’s another one!”), but it will unquestionably get you hype. Apart from the typical, albeit extremely satisfying bass groans and piercing synths, there are also some gorgeous strings that appear throughout the track, which give it some semblance of originality. The title track, “Bangarang” keeps the energy going with excellent vocal cuts including “shouts to all my Lost Boys” (likely a nod to J.M. Barrie’s infamous characters in “Peter Pan”) delivered by Sirah, who was featured on “WEEKENDS!!!” from Skrillex’s debut EP, available for free download HERE.

The third track has had a huge amount of buzz for its feature in the upcoming documentary “Re:Generation”, which follows the collaboration of five electronic musicians/groups with artists from traditional styles of music. In this case, Skrillex was paired with the remaining members of The Doors. The result was “Breakn’ A Sweat”. Although I am a fan of this track, especially the sample of Jim Morrison prophesying the electronic music future that exists today, this feels more like a “Skrillex ft. The Doors” joint more than a fully realized collaboration.

The halfway point of the EP is where things really start to heat up for me. Unlike the previous track, “The Devil’s Den” is a true collab. The sounds and rhythms contributed by complextro master Wolfgang Gartner are amazing. Those electro guitar riffs in the beginning get me too fired up. Killer track, ‘nough said. Fifth of the docket is “Right On Time”, featuring two mammoths in the game, 12th Planet and Kill The Noise. The track is largely a continuous build, which may throw some off, but it’s got an entirely fresh tone that you’ll be hard-pressed to ignore. One element that really caught my attention was the breakdown roughly halfway into the track. That staccato percussion rhythm has been largely influenced by OWSLA label-mates KOAN Sound. If you’ve never heard of them, go buy their Funk Blaster EP immediately. I’m serious. Next up is “Kyoto”, a record that I had to listen to a few times, but really enjoy now. Skrillex takes a page out of the Deadmau5/SOFI book and slaps Sirah’s edgy rapping over the beat, which really give the track a character all its own. Thumbs up.

Closing out the EP is “Summit” (not “Breathe”), which features one of edm’s most remixed talents, Ellie Goulding. This is the song that will give “Bangarang” some permanence in the electronic music world. Similar to my favorite Skrillex track, With Your Friends (Long Drive), this record showcases a completely different side of the artist’s talent. Unlike the rest of the album, Summit has no ear-splitting bass drops. This track completely leaves behind the brostep code that mandates nothing less than a masochistic assault of sound to be considered “legit”. Instead it settles on a placid ocean of soft wobbles, euphoric synthesizers, and Ellie Goulding’s ethereal voice. In essence: the perfect comedown.

“Bangarang” has got a lot of things working for it. To me, it is just another Skrillex album, but that in no way means it doesn’t rule. The simple fact is, if you don’t like Skrillex, you won’t like this. However, do at least give “Summit” a listen, perhaps it will awaken a new appreciation for the now five-time Grammy-nominated musician…

Buy “Bangarang” on Beatport.

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