Skrillex gleefully mashes up genres on seven-song Bangarang EP

Bangarang (Warner)

Okay, so either Skrillex is dubstep but is bastardizing the style to his own ends, or he’s not dubstep at all, right? Or maybe he’s the saviour of the genre, singlehandedly responsible for lifting it out of the obscurity of the electronica underground and into the mainstream. If these seem like rather meaningless talking points, that’s because they are, but that hasn’t stopped the type of geeks who frequent Internet message boards from either crucifying Sonny Moore or venerating him.

Moore probably doesn’t have much time to worry about how his music is labelled; he’s too busy racking up Grammy nominations and playing sold-out shows to pay much attention to his detractors. Oh, and recording, too. The seven-song Bangarang is the fourth Skrillex EP in less than two years, and his first full-length album, Voltage , is slated for release later this month.

It should be interesting to see where Moore takes things, because while Bangarang shows off the impressive range of his musical influences, it also hints at the limitations of his own creative impulses. The most intriguing track is “Breakn’ a Sweat”, a collaboration with members of the Doors that, despite boasting a signature spiralling organ part from Ray Manzarek, sounds very little like anything Jim Morrison would recognize. “Kyoto” is a mind-melting mix of industrial-strength distorted chords, Far East synth lines, and hard-core rap (courtesy of L.A. indie hip-popper Sirah). “Right on Time”, coproduced by 12 th Planet and Kill the Noise, revs up like a ’90s trance-techno cut but then never quite turns into one.

While it’s clear that former hardcore kid Moore is comfortable mashing up genres with all the gleeful abandon of Girl Talk, he tends to rely on the same few techniques to juice up his tracks. At some point in just about every song, the rhythm breaks down to the same simple cut-time beat to which Moore wobbles the shit out of everything until it sounds like a pleasure droid having a grand mal seizure. This brain-shaking oscillation is a fun, and effective trick, but it’s quickly becoming a cliché, which should be anathema to an obviously forward-thinking artist like Skrillex.

Skrillex - Bangarang (EP Review)

Skrillex is actually a man called Sonny Moore who used to be the lead singer and guitarist in an emo band called From First To Last (They were actually quite good!). The band disappeared into obscurity after the release of their second LP and I thought that would be the last anyone would hear of any of them. This was back in 2004.

A year or two later, Sonny attempted a solo electronic project imaginatively titled 'Sonny'. It seems here he picked up a few tricks because in 2009 he released his first EP as Skrillex and blew the world of Dubstep wide open.

Skrillex, love him or hate him, is the most well-known name in Dubstep. He is adored by thousands of fans who strongly feel he is the cutting-edge of music progression this decade, whilst at the same time having an equal amount of people apparently hate his guts because of his help in the commercialisation of Dubstep.

I have to admit I found myself more inclined to the 'haters' camp even having listened to each of his new remixes. However, with the release of his new EP, 'Bangarang', he makes it very clear he is all about the music and all my prejudice about him melted away with the listen of one track.

'Bangarang' is seven tracks of Dubstep, Trance, elements of progressive house and guitars being thrown in and Skrillex seems to be evolving to use Drum and Bass and Jungle beats in a concoction of electronic beauty.

The first song is aptly named, 'Right In', as that's what he does. Less than 30 seconds from pressing the play button and the track is in full force. “It's another one!”  Says some person before blasting the bass. This is the only track he does on the EP without collaboration.

Swiftly to the second track, 'Bangarang', which starts off with some funky 70's style guitar, while the first collaborator Sirah (I've never heard of them either) raps. The drop is quite literally the most impressive I've ever heard him produce.

'Breaking A Sweat' is the third track. It is notable because the collaborators are the surviving members of The Doors (If you don't know who they are.... shame on you) plus an eerily accurate prediction (at about 2:35) from the late great Jim Morrison about the future of music. Great and intelligent DJ'ing from Skrillex.

The fourth track, 'The Devil's Den', features Wolfgang Gartner and is an absolute banger. Get a copy of it and play it at a party, make sure everyone sees you put it on. Everyone will love you. 'Right On Time', the fifth, features fellow electronic music artists, 12th Planet and Kill The Noise, a classic track setting the level for which all Dubstep should now be based. The sixth track, 'Kyoto', welcomes back Sirah from the second track to do some more rapping with Dubstep over the top of it.

The closing track is wonderful. 'Summit', has a simple riff but is majestic in it's delivery and builds and builds until you almost can't take it anymore. Ellie Goulding (also worth checking out her work) features and sings perfectly complementing Sonny's voice. On hearing this song, I downloaded this EP as fast I could, which inspired me to write this review.

'Bangarang' is the fourth EP by Electro House/Dubstep producer Skrillex. It was released for download on Beatport on December 23rd, 2011, was made available from other music download sites on December 27th, 2011, and will be physically released on January 24th, 2012.

New shows going on sale: Incubus and Skrillex added to Bamboozle

FRIDAY, 10 A.M.
 
• Irving Plaza, New York. A$AP Rocky, Feb. 1, $18.

FRIDAY, NOON

• Best Buy Theater, New York, Mord Fustang, Rednek, Hellfire Machina, the Bolivian Marching Affair, Mark Yurm, March 30, $20.

• Mercury Lounge, New York. Royal Baths, Jane Jane Pollock, Jan. 10, $10. New Villager, Avan Lava, Jan. 12, $10. Party Lights, the Jay Vons, the Naked Heroes, the Living Kills, Jan. 15, $10. Milagres, Feb. 16, $12. Body Language, St. Lucia, March 3, $10. New Build, featuring members of LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip, March 13, $14.

TUESDAY, NOON

• Town Hall, New York. “Musicals of 1946,” Feb. 13. “Musicals of 1950,” March 19. “Musicals of 1975,” May 14. “Musicals of 1987,” June 11. Multi-artist tributes to the Broadway musicals that debuted these years. $45 or $55 per show.

TUESDAY, 5 P.M.

• B.B. King Blues Club and Grill. The Soft Parade, July 3, $17. Show is a tribute to Doors frontman Jim Morrison, who died on July 3, 1971.

ALSO

• Incubus, Skrillex and Mac Miller have been added to the lineup of the Bamboozle festival, taking place on the Asbury Park Oceanfront, May 18-20 (Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters and Blink-182 have previously been confirmed). Three-day passes, $190, are currently on sale. Single-day tickets go on sale Jan. 14.