ZHU's "DREAMLAND" album review: background, tracks, style
Содержание
"DREAMLAND" is the third studio album by Steven Zhu (best known as ZHU). It was announced at Red Rocks in 2020, and now finally, after more than a year of waiting, "DREAMLAND" has seen the light of day... Was it worth the wait? Absolutely. The multi-faceted artist consistently impresses electronica lovers with his signature sound and a force to be reckoned with!
"DREAMLAND" is 12 tracks, tons of sonic flavour with deep and powerful bass lines, shimmering and slippery synths, smoky and emotional vocals, and gloomy soundscapes... "I really wanted the emotion and music to be quite liberating" - commented ZHU himself. Actually, he succeeded in realising what he intended: "DREAMLAND" showcases the producer's characteristic sexy and provocative sound, demonstrating collaborations with well-known artists. Let's get acquainted with the album in more detail!
Sources of inspiration
Today, many artists come out of nowhere, make a furore, catch a quick flash of synthesised "fame" and fall back into the shadows... But one artist has steadily continued to improve with each new release, creating massive club tracks, lush electronic ballads... And that's ZHU! Steven Zhu excels at keeping his fans in suspense before each release. From 2016's GENERATIONWHY to 2018's massive hit "Ringo's Desert" - he has developed a unique ability to influence dance music in a way that a small percentage of other artists have managed... And now, in 2021, ZHU is back in the spotlight with his full-length album "DREAMLAND". This time he takes his fans deep into his life during a time of isolation... When asked "how the album came about" ZHU replied:
"The idea behind DREAMLAND is to look forward and create a version of the future we want to exist in..."
Well: if the future includes the awesome beats he showcased in this album, it's definitely bright... The producer revealed that the album's ideas and sound stemmed from his travelling during the pandemic, discovering remote locations around the country and doing live shows in the most unusual places:
"There were long periods of time when I was driving alone, and it was as if I had the vast landscape of the United States in the palm of my hand, which I had never travelled through before..."
The cover of "DREAMLAND" once again emphasises ZHU's commitment to club music: underneath the rough heel we can see a helmet that instantly reminds us of Daft Punk. Zhu also summarises 2020 in a black and white video, covering topics from pandemics to anti-Asian racism, the effects of government distrust, the rise of digital communications and climate change...
Tracks
The album starts on a high note with "Lost It", a brilliantly tough and implacable intro with a crushing rhythm and atmospheric guitar chords... This is followed by "Distant Lights", which builds on reckless, ecstatic abandon. The following tracks build on the same idea, both in the primal spirit of the instrumental compositions and the desperate pursuit of vocals coming from ZHU and his collaborators. "Blue Dream" is about a standard house track, "How Does It Feel" is a light and fresh composition, with a couple of soulful guitar chords... "Sweet Like Honey" contains beautiful piano motifs. It's a gentle stroll in which Chew describes why he and a mysterious girl can't be together... "Yours" is by London pop trio Arctic Lake: the track begins slowly, before a female voice begins to float over a synthesised beat. Like the previous track, "Yours" describes a temporary love... The song ends with a squealing guitar and a heavy industrial sound.
In the middle of the album, the mood changes dramatically on the modulated piano ballad "SOCO", which eventually picks up the dance beat! In this story, a girl growing up without a father is caught in a web of lies woven by an older man... The track ends with an electric noise that sounds almost like a lament. It's a brief reflection on the dangers of addictions... DREAMLAND ends with the most disorienting, interesting and dreamy song "I Need That". The atmosphere is very unsure and perhaps threatening, as if scary clowns might be lurking around the corner. Shimmering piano notes and electronic keys add contrast. The beat is like footsteps on wet tarmac. There are some vaguely menacing, crunchy industrial keyboard notes. It all ends with a lone saxophone, apparently playing under a dimly lit street lamp, in the pouring rain....
"Lost It."
"Distant Lights."
"Blue Dream."
"How Does It Feel"
"Sky Is Crying"
"Sweet Like Honey"
"Yours."
"SOCO."
"ONLY."
"Zhudio54"
"Good4U."
"I Need That"
Conclusion...
In previous years, the talented DJ, producer, musician, as well as songwriter and performer has gifted fans with masterpiece albums... As for hits, the most popular to date are "Faded" and "Working For It". Overall, ZHU's latest work is a real breath of fresh air from the versatile producer! As a multi-instrumentalist who boasts an illustrious career to date, he attributes his success to finding out-of-the-box solutions to problems and being surrounded by a supportive team.
