Released at the end of October, Harris remains true to dance-pop and EDM on his fourth studio album, “Motion.” His hit single “Summer” , however, proves to be one of the few memorable tracks after which all the songs begin to sound the same.
The album lacks a clear and cohesive theme, as all the tracks seem to simply be created as party mixes for the club. There are subtle mentions of falling in love and enjoying the company of friends. Harris does not deviate from his usual upbeat form as there is the use of drum machines, keyboards and synthesizers. As to be expected since Harris is a DJ, the entire album features other artists. Harris lacks featured artists on only 3 songs out of the 15 tracks on the album. Interestingly though, “Summer” features only Harris’s vocals on the track and it was a mega-hit during the summer.
The single, “Outside” featuring Ellie Goulding is reminiscent of their collaboration on Goulding’s “I Need Your Love.” Goulding’s vocals shine as she describes being on the outs in a relationship. As she sings, “I’ll show you what it feels like/ Now I’m on the outside/ We did everything right,” Goulding proves to be very sensitive with the relationship she is in. The tune is catchy which is typical of Harris.
“Dollar Signs” features Tinashé an up and coming R&B singer. The track is an interesting mix of Tinashé’s R&B and pop vocals with EDM beats. Although it is not a notable track, the song is about how money and material things is not a substitute for love. In a way, it is one of the more lyrically in-depth tracks on the album. As Tinashé sings, “If life’s a game I’m throwing loaded dice/ These other girls ain’t really what ya like, what ya like” the EDM beat compliments her voice.
Lastly, “Slow Acid” a beat based song which lacks vocals is the weakest link on the album. It is a track that cannot be listened to for more than a minute. Although it is a track perfect for the club scene, it is not a record that listeners can appreciate.
Overall, for EDM lovers, Harris’s “Motion” is a wonderful treat. However, for listeners looking for more substance and lyrical themes, Harris’s latest effort falls flat.
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