Carte Blanche/ DJ Snake - EDM


By Narendra Kusnur

 Album: Carte Blanche
Artiste: DJ Snake
Genre: EDM, trap music
Label: Geffen
Rating: ****

Indian electronic dance music (EDM) fans are pretty familiar with French musician William Grigahcine, who goes by the name DJ Snake. ‘Lean On’, his collaboration with American producers Major Lazer, was a huge hit three years ago. Earlier this year, his appearance in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and New Delhi created waves.

Naturally, his second album Carte Blanche has been much awaited. Here, Snake teams up with many big names of the club and hip-hop world, and comes up with a sound inspired by various global regions, yet maintaining a strong mix of 1990s European house and contemporary trap music.

With 17 tracks lasting an hour, the album works marvellously as a dance compilation, which one can play start to finish at a party. Opening with the mood-setting ‘Butterfly Effect’, Carte Blanche quickly gets into a blend of Afro-chants and dubstep on ‘Quiet Storm’, featuring Zomboy.

A vocoder effect is used on the electronica piece ‘When The Lights Go Down’, and Canadian rhythm n’ blues duo Majid Jordan come in on ‘Recognize’, characterised by catchy synthesised rhythms. Despite the use of the ‘f’ word, ‘No More’ has a sing-along vibe.

The guests include Bryson Tiller, the American ‘trap soul king’, on ‘Smile’, French producer Plastic Toy on the synthesiser-heavy ‘Try Me’ and Nigerian sensation Burna Boy, who lends a Shaggy-like reggae feel to ‘No Option’.

To give the album a Latina feel, Colombian reggaeton act J. Balvin and American rapper Tyga charm on ‘Loco Contigo’, whereas Selena Gomez, Ozuna and rapper Cardi B. combine on the Shakira-styled ‘Taki Taki’. Brazilian star Anitta and Jamaican singer Sean Paul coordinate well on ‘Fuego’. In a detour, ‘Magenta Riddim’ uses samples that could pass off as Indian shehnai-inspired folk.

Snake pays tribute to his hometown by ending the album with ‘Paris’, where Albanian artiste Gashi sings, “I can't believe I woke up in Paris, feels like a movie scene, As a kid I would be so embarrassed, to speak up on my dreams.”

Paris has had some remarkable DJs and producers over the years. The names include David Guetta, Daft Punk, Bob Sinclair, Laurent Garnier, St. Germain and Buddha Bar wizards Claude Challe and Ravin. Snake is currently zooming up the popularity scale, and Carte Blanche adds to his repertoire perfectly.


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