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        • I Want You to Ray John Playlist #15
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        • I Want You to Ray John Playlist #17
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        • I Want You to Ray John Playlist #20
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        • I Want You to Ray John Playlist #30
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        • I Want You to Ray John Playlist #32
        • I Want You to Ray John Playlist #33
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        • I Want You to Ray John Playlist #35
      • Playlists 36-40
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        • I Want You to Ray John Playlist #37
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    • SunSquabi & The Coop
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Lotus – Build

By: Casey Jones

Click Here to Purchase Build on Bandcamp
Click Here to Purchase Build on Bandcamp

2013 looks to be a very big year for Lotus. They’re already in the midst of a lengthy, almost non-stop winter/spring tour that will culminate with a 3-night run in Colorado at the Boulder Theater in April. The band also just announced that they will performing at Electric Forest, the first of what’s sure to be many festival announcements in the coming weeks. Lotus is said to be releasing three albums between now and 2014. The first comes in the form of Build, a 42-minute trip to a land where rock, funk, and electronica live together in perfect harmony.

Photo Courtesy of Tobin Voggesser
Photo Courtesy of Tobin Voggesser

The album is absolutely solid from start to finish but definitely has a few songs that stand out above the rest. You could tell somebody that “Massif” was a Deadmau5 song and they just might believe you. It’s as if Lotus didn’t remix “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff”, they re-imagined it. Regardless of influence, it’s a fun, dancey track that fans of jam and EDM alike can definitely get down to. “Uffi” is probably the most fun track on the album. The breakdown features quirky, computer sounding synths that make you want to get a little bit silly, it sounds great live. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to fight in an intergalactic space battle then “Kodiak” is the song for you! The song features a ridiculously awesome builds that are highlighted by a laser gun sounding synth. “Ashcon” is the dubbiest track on the album and the drop is a dirty one. The song’s lone command is for you to move your body and the wobbly wubs that follow ensure that you do so. A personal favorite track on the album is the last and is also separated into two; “Neon Tubes Part 1” and “Neon Tubes Part 2” show off all of Lotus’ skills. Part 1 is a straight jam that’s “…gettin’ funky as usual.” The Big Boi sample that provides that lyric is a nice touch. As Part 1 starts to speed up it becomes Part 2, and from there on out you’re in a crazy, loopy electroland. The one thing neither song loses is the consistent ability to keep people grooving.

Sometimes when instruments and electronic sounds mix the results can sound forced or a little off. That is far from the case when it comes to Build. Everything is on point and blends extremely well together. Throughout the entire album, no matter how many different genres it went back and forth from, it always achieves its main goal; making the listener want to dance. Ever since Lotus came onto the scene they’ve been challenging our minds and expanding our thoughts with their music, and Build proves that they still continue to do so. With 2 more new albums on the horizon, who knows what Lotus still has in store for us? I know that I’ll be looking forward to it, with my dancing shoes ready to go.

Build on Bandcamp

Lotus on Facebook

http://lotusvibes.com/

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