Versatile is the only way to describe Porter Robinson’s debut album Worlds. The size. The sound. Everything from the orchestral quasi-concerto “Fellow Feeling” to the more pop-sounding track “Lionhearted” has an immense depth and musicianship that the EDM world has not yet heard.
The American DJ started to turn electronic fans’ heads with his hit “Language” in 2012. After signing with a major label, co-writing the unofficial anthem of summer 2013, Zedd’s “Clarity, ” and spending the better part of two years awing crowds at all the EDM mainstays (Electric Daisy Carnival, Tomorrowland, and Ultra), the 22-year-old is preparing to drop his long-awaited studio album August 12.
Robinson demands listeners’ attention with the blaring intro in the opening track “Divinity.” He then takes them on an EDM vision quest that ventures everywhere from the more indie-sounding “Sad Machine,” which could come off a Passion Pit album, to the more traditional trance track “Fresh Static Snow.” Throughout the album, he shows a mastery of arrangement and range of melody that most electronic performers do not grasp – let alone possess.
There are two possible major criticisms. The first is that the songs start off slow. A few of the tracks, most notably “Fellow Feeling,” have extremely long intros and it can be agonizing at times waiting for the beat to drop, but in hindsight, the waiting is worth it. The second would be that the entire album seems somewhat disjointed. While each song has Porter Robinson’s patented melodic style, the tracks do not flow together. The overall album may feel dynamic, but it may just be a byproduct of the mixed-and-matched styles.
With the release of the album, Porter Robison shows off his amazing musicianship, but this can also be described as a more mature and developed sound. “Lionhearted” may be the only track on the album that has the potential to get airtime on mainstream radio, but hardcore EDM fans will definitely appreciate all of Worlds.
The album cannot really be recommended to the casual fan, who only listens to EDM as an excuse to dress up and go to a music festival, but rather to those who appreciate the genre and want to hear something different — google.cosomething new. While the album may not be a commercial hit, it may just be enough to establish Robinson as the most talented American DJ.
