[divider]Production[/divider]
It’s hard to assess the production of an album with very little original work. Since this is primarily a mashup mixtape, there is not a lot of original production . However, Justin does an amazing job of mixing together songs and the mashups generate a whole greater than the sum of its parts. There are several edits, which 3lau slightly tweaks to fit his style more, but the structure of the song largely stays the same. A great example of this is 3lau’s Tomorrow World Edit of Zombie by Paris & Simo.
Featured Track: Paris & Simo- Zombie (3lau’s TomorrowWorld Edit)
https://soundcloud.com/parisandsimo/zombie3lauedit
[divider]Songwriting[/divider]
To go along with the album’s production, it can be difficult to assess the songwriting of an album consisting only of mashups and edits. To truly get a good idea of 3lau’s talent as a songwriter, Audien’s edit of How You Love Me is the best example because it is the only song that features 3lau’s original work. The edit is essentially a mix of 3lau’s How You Love Me and Audien’s track Hindsight, but the vocals and chord progression at the beginning of the song are originally 3lau’s.
Featured Song: 3lau- How You Love Hindsight (Audien Edit)
https://soundcloud.com/3lau/how-you-love-hindsight-audien
[divider]Cohesion[/divider]
This mixtape is incredibly cohesive because the songs all keep the same vibe. In listening to this album all the way through, you would think it was a mix. It is sometimes difficult to tell when a song ends and the other begins. There is not any variance in pace and Dance Floor Filth 4 stays extremely consistent throughout its entirety. Maps and Habits is one track that especially does an incredible of job of keeping the flow of the mixtape.
Featured Track: 3lau- Maps & Habits (3lau Mashup)
https://soundcloud.com/3lau/maps-habits-3lau-mashup
[divider]Originality[/divider]
3lau is certainly staying true to his roots on Dance Floor Filth 4. Mashups are what brought the artist to the forefront and it is without a doubt his bread and butter. The Dance Floor Filth series generally features the most popular dance music tracks of the preceding months, so at times, the mashups can be predictable. It would be interesting to see what 3lau could produce by mashing up a broader spectrum of songs. Mineral Drive is a refreshing track on the this mixtape because it features a throwback in Incubus’s 2000 hit single Drive.
Featured Track: 3lau- Mineral Drive (3lau Edit)
https://soundcloud.com/3lau/mineral-drive-3lau-bootelg?in=3lau/sets/dance-floor-filth-4
Check out Dance Floor Filth 4 by clicking on the SoundCloud link below or download the mixtape here. Even though the $10,000 goal has already been met for 3lau’s Pencils of Promise pledge, you can always donate to Pencils of Promise through Justin Blau’s fundraising page.
For more album releases and reviews in the future, follow Dance Music Northwest on Twitter or like us on Facebook!
https://soundcloud.com/3lau/sets/dance-floor-filth-4
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