Combining the pop sense of Kaskade and the technical focus of deadmau5, Kx5 is a no-frills electronic dance attack custom-built for maximum euphoric effect, recalling the halcyon days of the late-'90s/early-2000s club scene. Not a second is wasted as the set kicks off with "Alive," the duo's hit collaboration with the Moth & the Flame, which builds early before plunging into a hypnotic trance punctuated by a memorable, melodic synth line that burrows its way deep into the listener's pleasure center. The similarly crowd ...
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Combining the pop sense of Kaskade and the technical focus of deadmau5, Kx5 is a no-frills electronic dance attack custom-built for maximum euphoric effect, recalling the halcyon days of the late-'90s/early-2000s club scene. Not a second is wasted as the set kicks off with "Alive," the duo's hit collaboration with the Moth & the Flame, which builds early before plunging into a hypnotic trance punctuated by a memorable, melodic synth line that burrows its way deep into the listener's pleasure center. The similarly crowd-pleasing pulse-pounder "Sacrifice" takes Sofi Tukker's global approach and slaps it on one of the more driving moments on the album. "Take Me High" is a rapturous trip to church that mashes a vocal sample that could have been on Moby's Play with a hands-in-the-air progressive house trip that churns its way into another big hit, "Avalanche" with James French. Almost uplifting at the start, the track builds to unbearable levels, shattering with a dirty hard house attack that rarely releases its grip. There are so many high points on Kx5 that the album's big mainstream crossover moment, "Escape" featuring Hayla, becomes just another earworm in the pack. A bright and absolutely joyous experience, Kx5 is an expertly paced, start-to-finish wonder. Stretching beyond just a simple collaborative fling, these two masters of their craft fully justify their headline-grabbing union as Kx5, providing an immediate mood boost and inspiring a total physical response with ten tracks built for the festival headlining stage. ~ Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi
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