Bad At Math, Good At Music: 4×4=12 by Deadmau5

posted in: Reviews & Playlists

Deadmau5 stormed the house and electronic scene back in late 2007 and has been rapidly growing in popularity since first making music under the B.S.O.D. moniker (the song “This Is The Hook” hit Number 1 on the Beatport charts). This year has been an especially good year thanks to a world tour, numerous placements in television programs and video games, and the coveted role as MTV’s House Artist for the VMAs. Now Deadmau5 is looking to top 2010 off with his new album 4×4=12.

Continuing in his quest to make intelligent dance music that breaks free of ultra-limiting sub-genre boxes, Deadmau5 has found a great balance between simple and catchy dance rhythms, uncharacteristic vocal parts and varied textures. Though 4×4=12 spills into many different types of electronic music, it finds its center mostly in house music given the ever-present four-on-the-floor rhythm and mid-tempos. Unlike most house music, however, Deadmau5 breaks free from traditional house rhythms in favor of more groove heavy rhythms like those found in dubstep”the ninth track on the album, “Raise Your Weapon” shows extensively how far Deadmau5 ventures from standard house music with the melancholy vocals, the somber piano and dubstep groove found in the latter half of the song.

Although the style variances on the 4×4=12 are very well executed, they aren’t the best part of the album. It’s the simplicity, subtlety, and tastefulness in which the styles are introduced that is remarkable. The various styles of vocals never feel or seem out of place; whether it’s rapping, melancholy singing or more of an attitude-filled electro-pop section”it always fits. Given the fact that 4×4=12 is essentially a collection of singles, each song flows well into the next (even when there are clear beginnings and ends).

In addition to Deadmau5, the other features and collaborations on 4×4=12 really round out the album. From Sofi’s vocals on “One Trick Pony” and “Sofi Needs a Ladder” to Wolfgang Gartner on “Animal Rights”” each bit adds yet another dimension to the album. Adding these features and collaborations helps the album to go beyond being “just another dance album” to something you would be more than happy listening to even while not dancing because of the added substance.

The album is still definitively a house record (albeit a progressive one). If you don’t like house music, there’s little chance you’ll find this a great listen, but it is certainly worth checking out simply because of it’s rather unique nature. There’s at least a little bit on this album for every type of electronic dance music (EDM) fans and non-EDM fans alike.

4×4=12 is now available on iTunes and Amazon, as well as Deadmau5’s web store.