Pristine. Exhilarating. Epic. These words succinctly describe Ferry Corsten’s music. Celebrating his 20th year as a world-class EDM (electronic dance music) DJ/producer, Corsten delivers his 4th full-length studio album, “WKND” (Ultra Music/Flashover), on February 24th. Blinding flashes of brilliance ensue from the first track through to the last, 15 in total including a bonus track. Tight, punchy and radio-ready, the carefully crafted tracks on “WKND” are as well-suited for a packed dancefloor as they are for afternoon-drive on pop radio. With this attention to detail, it’s no wonder he is today amongst the most sought-after artists in the world. What Ferry creates in music is the sound of now… not following any trends in pop/dance radio, but rather setting them.
“WKND” showcases his artistic diversity. From the peak-time festival crowd-pleasers to the radio-ready pop songs and every step in between, Corsten paints with masterful strokes. The result is a collection of meticulously built tunes in perfect keeping with the sound of today.
For die-hard EDM lovers, Corsten delivers a stable of epic, anthemic tracks. From the mainroom-killing Brute with fellow superstar, Armin van Buuren, to the punchy Take Me and the electro Don’t Be Afraid with its enormous build and resounding breakdown, Corsten generates a sense of apocalyptic urgency that’s nonetheless melodic and beautiful. Sunday, the bonus track, is written in a minor chord and is eerily good with its stuttered vocal stabs and warm bassline. Likewise, WKND, the title track, digs deep with its rumbling bottom and rejoicing synths before exploding with crushing ferocity. Ferry gives a nod to tech-house with his hugely successful take on Philippe B. vs Todd Terry’s classic house music anthem, Can You Feel It, Corsten’s brilliant rework having recently become a mainfloor mainstay of heroic trance proportions. Corsten heralds a new era of euphoric, uplifting electronic music in its purest form on A Day Without Rain featuring Ellie Lawson, her super-charged vocals bringing smiles of ecstasy to club-goers’ faces. The equally inspiring albeit slower tempo Walk On Air featuring Pierre In The Air and Amba Sheperd is also a glimmering jewel.
Not one to be constrained to the underground EDM scene – vast as it may be – Ferry Corsten tackles and conquers the mainstream with a series of pop radio-friendly songs that have “hit” written all over them. It’s impossible to choose a favorite between this many gems. Take the soaring, sunshine-y song, In Your Eyes featuring JES, or the immaculate, annihilating ballad that is Not Coming Down featuring Betsie Larkin, and both are winners. Corsten proves that, in the right hands, male vocals can be just as hook-y, as exemplified by the previously released hit single, Check It Out, and the storming Love Will, the latter featuring Duane Harden. Corsten ensures that pop radio will indeed come calling with the proper song construction of Let You Go featuring Sarah Bettens, the luscious sonic pleasures of Live Forever featuring Aruna, and the dirty electro-house of Ain’t No Stoppin‘ featuring Ben Hague.
In the cutthroat world of A-list producers, evolution and adaptability become the keys to longevity. To wit, Corsten has been requested by fellow A-listers for remix work, including by: U2, Mobu, Duran Duran, Public Enemy, William Orbit, Nelly Furtado, Faithless, The Killers and many others. As an original artist, “WKND” marks Corsten’s 4th full-length artist album. Corsten’s previous studio albums were “Twice In A Blue Moon” (2008), “L.E.F.” (2006) and “Right Of Way” (2003).
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