Calvin Harris managed to find a way to distill the sounds of summer into a near-perfect spirit on his fifth effort,
Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 1. Assembling an all-star roster of performers for an economic ten-track burst that doesn't overstay its welcome, the Scotsman made a surprising turn away from the EDM anthems that defined much of his output for the bulk of a decade. Much like
Daft Punk's throwback
Random Access Memories,
Bounces is a satisfying dose of futuristic nostalgia performed mostly on live instruments by
Harris. Joining him are nearly two-dozen high-profile guests from the worlds of rap, R&B, and pop, joining forces on team efforts that sound like the soundtrack to the coolest beach party to which you weren't famous enough to be invited.
ScHoolboy Q,
PartyNextDoor, and the ever-endearing
D.R.A.M. unite for the elastic "Cash Out," while
Snoop Dogg,
John Legend, and
Migos'
Takeoff smooth things out on the sexy "Holiday."
Future and
Khalid collide on the gorgeous "Rollin," and
Kehlani shines with
Lil Yachty on "Faking It."
Ariana Grande steals the show on the effervescent "Heatstroke," despite
Pharrell Williams and
Young Thug's best efforts.
Williams returns with
Katy Perry and
Big Sean for "Feels," an island getaway that transports listeners on its funky groove. Above all stands the indomitable "Slide," an instant classic featuring
Frank Ocean and two-thirds of
Migos, with
Offset outshining
Quavo by a margin. Even less immediate contributions by
Travis Scott and
A-Trak ("Prayers Up"),
Nicki Minaj ("Skrt on Me"), and
Jessie Reyez ("Hard to Love") keep the festivities afloat.
Funk Wav Bounces impresses not just with the marquee names, but with how effortless, communal, and fun
Harris makes it all feel. ~ Neil Z. Yeung
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