Calvin Harris continues his success in “Motion”

Jessica Miller
Staff Writer

The face of Electronic Dance Music, Calvin Harris, continues to impress EDM fans in his newest album, “Motion,” by sticking to his usual mesmerizing dance hits.

“Motion,” is Calvin Harris’s fourth studio album. Harris’s exceptional DJ skills are shown through thrilling synths and toe-tapping beats that make the music fun and easy to dance to.
Popular artists such as Ellie Goulding, Gwen Stefani, Big Sean, and Haim feature in the music and compliment the songs with catchy choruses.

The Scottish DJ-producer is both experience and talented with nine Billboard Hot 100 hits in the past 10 years. Harris has played at music festivals around the world, including being a headliner at Coachella. He was also the first musician to have nine Top 10 Singles from one album, and according to an estimate by Forbes magazine, Harris made $66 million in 2013, making him the highest paid DJ in the world.

“Motion” is full of radio-hits that are captivating and fun to listen to. Addictive choruses are paired with euphoric sounds to create 15 notable feel-good ballads. One of the strongest of these feel-good songs is “Pray to God,” a bold collaboration with pop rock band Haim, which is composed of three sisters. The band’s vocals add passion and a unique rock edge to the music.

The track “Open Wide” gives a new twist to electronic music by featuring rapper Big Sean, adding rap vocals that flow well with the electronic synths. Although many DJs often create songs with no lyrics at all, the rap chorus ultimately compliments the song and makes it more intriguing than it would have been without lyrics.

“Blame,” featuring singer John Newman, contains sweeping energetic vocals that flow perfectly over exhilarating beats. With progressing keyboard and a catchy hook, “Blame it on the night, don’t blame it on me,” the track becomes one you can’t help but put on repeat.

Additionally, “Motion” includes Harris’s single, “Summer,” a charmingly arranged dance-pop ballad featuring Harris’s own vocals. The song is the most profound on the album with sing-a-long lyrics and irresistible synths leading up to unforgettable beat drops.

Many tracks on “Motion” are successful due to collaborations with trendy artists, but the album is overall alluring and well-produced with Harris’s hypnotic electronic pulsations, uptempo beats, and captivating hooks.

“Motion” was released November 4th and is available on iTunes and in retail for $11.99.