Rating: 7/10

Track Amount: 17

Running Time: 55 minutes and 48 seconds

Genre: EDM/Pop

Personnel: Calvin Harris and guests, as indicated

Producer: Calvin Harris, Disciples, Kuk Harrell, Burns, Andrew Watt

Recording Location: Various locations

Record Label: Columbia Records

Art Direction: N/A

Best Tracks: This Is What You Came For, One Kiss

Quick Verdict: A mostly good collection of EDM Pop Music by Calvin Harris

This is one for the fans of DJ sets and Calvin Harris in general. With songs recorded as singles from 2015 onwards to the release of this album, this is a quirky addition to Calvin Harris’s music catalogue, being touted as both a new album and a compilation, although it is much more of the latter at hand present here. Of course, there are, in typical Calvin Harris style, many music guests and contributors on this particular compilation release. This is also a sequel to the mammoth 18 Months (2012) release that was both popular and had a number of high-charting singles globally. This release was obviously a long time coming. Without any further hesitation, let’s jump in and take a listen to this album, and we can hope that it sounds as good as its popularity promises.

1. Free (with Ellie Goulding) begins with some ghostly sounds and Ellie Goulding’s sad and moody vocals throughout. This quickly launches into a song that sounds extremely heartbreaking. This enters into a tune that is very reminiscent of the early works of The Prodigy. A good listen, but this is music designed to be listened to under the influence. It does sound very much like 1990s House Music at hand. This is a good song, despite its negative mood. Some modified Amen Breakbeats are present on this song as well. A magical and moody song for those of you who value sad and emotional music, mixed with progressive and Trance Music like structures throughout. It continues on nicely towards the end, and is a winner of a song to listen to. A genuinely good start to an album that has been hot property since its release. Excellent, it fades out nicely at the end of it all.

2. How Deep Is Your Love features the Disciples. It begins with a gritty music patch, beats and some interesting vocals at hand. This is an EDM tune that sounds deep, meaningful and wonderful throughout. This is further proof of the excellence of this album so far. Calvin Harris articulately makes some interesting and futuristic Electro House Music at hand. This is definitely an essential listen from this album, and deservedly so. It sounds powerful, upbeat and magical overall. This sequel to 18 Months (2012) sounds absolutely upbeat and fantastic to listen to, so far. This is perfect music to listen to at the gym or while jogging outside. A seriously wonderful and awesome song at hand that is pretty, intricate and polished. Thumbs up to Calvin Harris and Disciples, this song is a winner. Enjoyable from start to finish.

3. This Is What You Came For features Rihanna. It was a huge hit, and one can clearly hear why from the start. Calvin Harris and Rihanna have made some great music together, and again, this is no exception to all that. This music is sweet, upbeat and sad lyrically. This song is about betrayal in love, which is not at all uncommon in Western society at the time of writing, where most marriages fail these days. In any case, this is a really good tune to listen to, and is proof of the magic of Calvin Harris’s EDM tracks and Rihanna’s gorgeously pure vocals at hand. This is a very outstanding song, although the moody melancholy and excessively autotuned vocals are not for everyone. Still, this is an impressive tune at hand that works wonders. This music sounds very detailed and awesome, just delivering exactly what it promised as such. If you need a good example of heartbreak and despair set to EDM and vocals, look no further. A great song and danceable tune to match it.

4. My Way is not Frank Sinatra. Instead, this is a poor Rap tune that sounds out of place with EDM beats to match it. This track is deeply disappointing and, quite honestly, just not that good overall. It is okay to sit through, but for those of you who lack patience, you may want to skip this weaker track. This sounds sort of ethereal overall, but this is not an outstanding song as such, and proves that mainstream talent is lacking at the time of writing. This does sound quirky, but this is garbage and is very repetitive overall. This album is not as good as 18 Months by this point overall, and this track pulls it down quite a bit. Repetitive and ordinary music to listen to.

5. One Kiss (with Dua Lipa) begins with some trippy and treated vocals by Dua Lipa, and launches into a nice midtempo House Music styled banger at hand. Dua Lipa sounds very sweet and soulful on this tune. She has a pretty and unique singing voice that perfectly makes this romantic love at first sight story come alive. There are many layers of intricate instrumentation throughout that prove that Calvin Harris is a total legend in his own way. This music is certainly some of the best EDM made during recent years in the 21st century. An enjoyable, fluid and fantastic song overall with many trippy layers of sound to surprise and dazzle you. This music flows and transforms into a great and excellent song that sounds fantastic from start to finish. A great idea to get Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa together on a song, it works incredibly well here.

6. Promises (with Sam Smith) begins with some interesting beats and textures, and launches into a song with EDM sensibilities that sounds quite refreshingly interesting. Sam Smith’s guest appearance does make this music nicely come alive as well. This is much better than expected, and sounds like a typical EDM Pop song from our postmodern world. Calvin Harris and Sam Smith have made a fantastic song on this album, and it sounds pure and fresh overall. A seriously upbeat and cool tune about promises to a lover that should be kept. All in all, an incredible listen with some nicely treated vocals towards the end that sound rather tripped out. A very good song at hand that is extremely refreshing musically to hear. Just wonderful.

7. Giant (with Rag’n’Bone Man) sounds really different, and is like a mash-up of Blues Music and EDM structures. Seriously. A bit unusual as such, but nevertheless wonderful to listen to and to hear. This is a strange concoction of music that is very different to anything else that Calvin Harris has done previously. It moves into a 4/4 beat-driven piece with horns and Blues Music structures throughout. A surprising and interesting tune at hand. Sure, this is not the best Calvin Harris release ever made, but it certainly has its moments musically as such. If you want to hear something completely different from this album, this tune is that. A solid tune which mixes older styles of music with some newer sounds throughout. A different combination of Blues-style Gospel Music and EDM beats. Some people in areas such as the South of the USA, in particular, will dig this song. A good and different listen. Worth your ears.

8. I’m Not Alone – 2019 Edit begins with some straightforward House Music beats and sounds. This quickly leads into an excellent instrumental by Calvin Harris that sounds melodic, anthemic and pleasant to listen to. This is a bit different to the rest of the album. Some vocals eventually enter, and this Pop/EDM tune sounds alive for it. This is a song about finding a guiding light in one’s life, as such, which is really a spiritual/religious thing as such. In any case, this is a solid listen, despite its lyrical content sounding a little cheesy. This is a good tune regardless and is barely over three minutes in length. Not bad.

9. Miracle (with Ellie Goulding) begins with some neat and melodic vocals by Ellie Goulding, alongside some interesting melodies to listen to. This quickly launches into a glorious and fantastic Hard House-style tune that sounds really neat and sweet throughout. Near the midsection is some pretty piano that sounds very, very good to hear. A serious tune, but a danceable tune to listen to in general. This progresses with percussive beats throughout, and sounds joyously fantastic for what this is. Ellie Goulding has made a good vocal section that very few come close to as well on this song. A really fine listen overall, which ends with some neat cut-up beats, The Prodigy style. Sweet music to hear.

10. Desire (with Sam Smith) begins with some smooth and soulful vocals by the guest. It is a tale of personal romance and longing for a partner’s love in life, set to amazing-sounding EDM sounds and beats. This is yet another winner by Calvin Harris, who soars with his music and artistic output on this release. A sweet, devotional and sensational tune that young lovers can appreciate, provided that romanticism is your thing. A pretty, sweet and enjoyable digital House Music ballad that sounds and is great. Fortunately, this is included on this great album. The songs on this album are very magical to listen to. Worth it from start to finish. Another solid tune at hand. The outro is somewhat trippy.

11. Hypnagogic (I Can’t Wait) – Edit features Love Regenerator. It begins with a Roland TB-303 style riff and breakbeats, before launching into a very retro-sounding Acid House sounding tune at hand. There are pianos and soaring vocals present as well, which illuminate the way through this musical trip. This does sound enjoyable and pretty, even though this is not the sort of music Calvin Harris is renowned for. There is a breakdown in the middle, followed by Roland TB-303/TR-808/TR-909 action musically that sounds superb. There are a multitude of sonic sections and differently structured melodies to make your mouth water. The vocals are terrific as well. A really divine and energetic listen that would sound perfect under the influence. Great overall.

12. Lovers In A Past Life (with Rag’n’Bone Man) is a short tune with some moody and sad vocals with piano and a tale of a distraught relationship that didn’t work out in this life, but in the past one did. This is a direct reference to Buddhism and Buddhist concepts as such, which is quite different for this sort of music. Still, this will be a close-to-the-bone listen for many out there. This is a really good listen that could do with a rework and an extended remix, too. Such is the nature of EDM as such. Calvin Harris delivers the goods, and he makes some genuinely consistent and interesting music as such. A really energetic and pounding tune that will be a tearjerker for some. Nonetheless, a good listen overall.

13. Nuh Ready Nuh Ready (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR) begins with processed horns and ethereal textures throughout, with the guest sounding very much like he is from Jamaica, or somewhere similar. A good addition throughout. Once the beat drops, this tune comes alive and really does sound sweet, melodic and catchy as well. The music and sounds are spot on for the sort of music that is very popular today, but even so, this has a limited shelf life as such. Calvin Harris still makes some awesome tunes, all the same. Another solid addition to this compilation that has some neat singing about love/sexual matters at hand. The intricate beats, horns and textures back up the singing very, very well. Another solid listen overall.

14. Body Moving features Eliza Rose. It sounds like a throwaway tune from the start of it all, sadly. Even so, this is a fairly short and energetic tune that easily can be sat through or skipped if needed, as it is less than three minutes in length. In any case, this is a driven and powerful tune that, for all its trashiness, does make one want to dance and party a lot. This is rather a disappointing listen, as the vocalist has a quite unimpressive voice overall. It is over fairly quickly, however, so you have an excuse not to be totally disappointed listening to this tune.

15. Live Without Your Love (with Steve Lacy) also features Love Regenerator. It sounds odd from the start, with some dark and rather naff melodies. The main guest sings well, but this tune is instantly worth avoiding and is trash as such. It quickly leads into a very average tune with 4/4 beats galore and a very House Music feel to it all. Even so, this is okay, but it is quite lacking. It seems that Calvin Harris made some of his hits a bit better than others as such. The beat changes throughout are fascinating to hear, even if the song itself is a dud. A decently constructed tune, but one which still needs a serious rethink overall. This has a real Gospel/Disco Music feel and sound in the second half of it all. It’s okay, but nothing overly stunning is present. A bit of a drag to get through. This track needs a redo.

16. Lonely (feat. Sananda Maitreya) also has Love Regenerator and Riva Starr contributing to this track as well. It sounds dreamy and dark from the start. This is, quite honestly, an awful track towards the end of this album as such. It seems that this compilation release could have been quite a bit shorter as such if some of the songs had been jettisoned before release. A layered and interesting, but not very good track as such. Still, it is not the worst tune ever made. One can certainly sit through all this, even if it is a bit lacking musically. This tune is a spacey adventure through sound, but unfortunately, the vocals do not match it from our guest. Much more miss than hit. Still, the quality of this album means that this is largely forgivable. Barely passable, however.

17. By Your Side (feat. Tom Grennan) is the final track on this album. It begins with some looped guitar playing and some odd vocals by our guest. This is a joke of a tune, which has a pretentious attitude as such. This eventually launches into a semi-decent EDM tune that is fairly catchy and danceable. This wraps up an album that proves that Calvin Harris, for the most part, still has it many years into his career. This music does have a positive and uplifting spirit to it, and this finale on this album release is no different. This has a strange breakdown in the second half, which sounds trippy and dreamy. The music and sounds do match each other quite well here. A very good job by Calvin Harris, and the album concludes here.

This album is a bit of an afterthought of some varying quality in tracks overall. Some are fantastic, others average, and towards the end are a couple of stinkers. However, for the most part, this is an impressive album to listen to, and aside from the legendary 18 Months (2012) album release, this is a great starting point for Calvin Harris’s mixture of EDM and Pop Music into classic songs. Should you listen to this album? Yes, you should, if you like 18 Months and want to hear more, but if you hate most Pop Music nowadays, do not bother with this release.

If you like this article, please like, share, comment and follow me on The Ultimate Music Library. Thank you, Chris Airey.