Alex Metric – Open Your Eyes Review

British DJ and producer, Alex Metric, is the talk of the town in the DJ world at the moment. He left his slot as part of Radio One’s ‘In New DJs We Trust’ to concentrate on the production of his new album ‘Open Your Eyes’. Released on the 22nd August this is fresh off the shelves and fresh and exciting it has turned out to be.

Party friendly, smiley, happy electronic music this is, as it should, be just simply good dance music. I expected him to drop in some dark dub step beats like every other DJ under the sun but he stuck at what he’s good at and it was light and fluffy electro-dance through and through.

The opening track (and album name), ‘Open Your Eyes’ makes for a good primer and sets the scene for the rest of the album. Every track features pleasantly niggling beats, atmospheric backgrounds and catchy choruses that quickly induce head bopping, toe tapping and bum shuffling in the straightest of people.

He plays around with an array of musicians, some who are challenging to remix; such as turning the usually annoying Ellie Goulding into relatively palatable dance music, and other musicians that are made to be tinkered with like Depeche Mode. His remix of Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’ may seem like a predictable choice but he successfully put his own stamp on it in his progressively whimsical way.

His unmistakable talent is clear in the slick production of his remixes and musicians such as Beastie Boys, N.E.R.D and Gorillaz certainly don’t mind him playing around with their songs.

It is interesting to note that two of the tracks are co-produced with Greek-Swedish DJ, Steve Angello, who is more familiarly known as one third of the Swedish House Mafia.

Alex Metric has produced an album that has the quality of a timeless masterpiece (if dance music is your thing) and at a pace that isn’t too frenzied and you wouldn’t have to be in the middle of a sweaty club raving away to appreciate the auditory shapes that shift throughout the tracks. Whether you’re working out, driving to work or sitting at home, ‘Open Your Eyes’ will be a good companion.

By Sarah Wilk