Beyond Dubstep: My Review of Skrillex's "Recess"

Skrillex

Skrillex, aka. Sonny Moore, has enjoyed a career as one of the top electronic deejays in the world for several years.  But he has never released an album until 2014, with "Recess".  According to the rumor, while in Italy, he had two laptops stolen out of his hotel room that contained the materials for an unreleased album, called "Voltage".  Fortunately, he was able to gather enough material to record this debut album - after many, many EPs.  And what an album!

Those who know me know that - in 2011 - I was totally on board with the whole dubstep thing, back when it was new and relatively unknown.  All summer, I deejayed this music on the fair circuit from Utah to Wyoming to Montana.  I got a huge response.  And the undeniable King of Dubstep was Skrillex.  All of those dubstep affecianados now like to turn up their nose to Skrillex now in favor of other artists like Excision, Kaskade, Nero, and Bassnectar.  But they were into Skrillex back then, just like everybody else.

Dubstep, like all fads that blaze quickly, also burned out quickly.  It is nice to see that Skrillex, like his erstwhile competitor, deadmau5, have been able to transcend this genre.  Yes, there is still much dubstep on this album on songs like "Doompy Poomp" and "Fuck That".  There is wobble bass - you know, that electronic noise that sounds like Cylons talking.  But he has used many elements of other electronic genres - electro, brostep, drum & bass, reggae, and dancehall.  This is truly an album that goes beyond any label.

Recess

For instance, Skrillex seems to make his noise on the higher end of the spectrum now with songs like "All Is Fair In Love & Brostep", the infectious title track, "Recess", and "Stranger".  Skrillex adds to his sound by recruiting other electronic artists, like Alvin Risk, on "Try It Out".  My favorite song is the faux reggae on "Ragga Bomb" with its feverish static set over a funky beat.  Other favorites are "Ease My Mind" (with Niki & the Dove) with its haunting vocals and Middle Eastern rhythm, and the album concludes with the mellow "Fire Away".

Of course, it couldn't be a Skrillex album without the songs that annoy me - "Coast Is Clear", the drum & bass /"Dirty Vibe", "Doompy Poomp", and "Fuck That".  That is the thing with electronic music.  It has the ability to move us, or grate on us.

All in all, this album is a success.  It will be interesting to see where Skrillex is in another five years from now.