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| by: Inc Magazine |
Scottish songwriter/producer/DJ Calvin Harris has arguably moved across more dance music scenes than any other major contemporary artist. His successful debut album, I Created Disco (2007), had a lovably geeky charm, blending Jona Lewie-style lyrical wryness with home-studio beats.
Harris’s relocation to the States and his A-list collaborations have made him a transatlantic EDM big-hitter. His last album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol 1 (2017), represented a shimmy away from stadium-sized raves towards a 1970s/1980s-flavoured boogie revival. Vol 2 continues with that star-studded formula, splicing feel-good grooves, famous vocalists and rappers, and a shaking of 1990s G-funk.
Funk Wav Bounces Vol 2 demonstrates Harris’s assured range as an artist and producer. He has always been a catchy songwriter and there are some persuasive bangers here — in particular, the dreamy symphony of “New To You” (reminiscent of the Love Unlimited Orchestra), featuring gorgeous vocals from Normani, Tinashe and Offset. Midlands-born singer-songwriter Jorja Smith sounds soulful on “Somebody Else”, while the assertive strut of “Woman of the Year” boasts the mighty trio of Stefflon Don, Chlöe and Coi Leray.
As with its predecessor, Vol 2’s track-listing crams in the guest features and it feels more like an overcrowded high-profile compilation than a really cohesive album. The Chic-inspired two-part “Stay With Me” spins through vocal turns from Justin Timberlake, Halsey and Pharrell Williams, yet sounds oddly workmanlike. Lead single “Potion” (featuring Dua Lipa and Young Thug) is tuneful if not intoxicating.
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.2 is available everywhere now!https://t.co/S7aoZn5Qr6
— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) August 5, 2022
It’s always fun to hear Busta Rhymes’s rabble-rousing flow, but he sounds like he’s running on autopilot on “Ready or Not”, while Snoop Dogg is more lethargic than chilled on “Live My Best Life”. It feels like there’s something missing from this super-smooth collection, and it just might be the combination of pathos and dance-floor adrenalin that underpinned Harris’s earlier productions, which always gave even his euphoric club tracks a bittersweet depth.
On Funk Wav Bounces, Harris’s technique feels more in line with that of Mark “Uptown Funk” Ronson: the music is pristine and packs plenty of mainstream hooks yet lacks a vital emotional connection. The heart and soul of the party are rarely locked in the VIP lounge.
Stream Calvin Harris’ Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2 on Spotify and Apple Music.
