Posted on 07/14/2009
In the case of Major Lazer, the inter-continental collaboration between Philly's Diplo and London's Switch, there's plenty reason to judge them based on the cover for their first album Guns Don't Kill People, Lazers Do! The imposing figure of Major Lazer, the lazer-armed Jamaican commando who's spirit guides the ambitious project, dominates a landscape populated with mummies, zombies and oversized speakers painted in bright comic book colors. It's textbook overindulgence, but considering the authors, that might not be the worst thing on this brash and entertaining reboot of modern dancehall.

Perhaps fueled by a Grammy nomination and mainstream acceptance via the success of M.I.A.'s ubiquitous “Paper Planes,” Diplo & Switch attack Lazers with the confidence and assurance that their experimental digi-dub style have some momentum to carry it forward. The opening link-up with Mr. Lex and scenester queen Santigold allows the group some room to flex their creative muscles, as Santi cooly promises to “make you vibrate like a Nokia” over a frenetic soundscape of neighing horses, ringing phones and squeaky kisses. It's an appropriately unpredictable and hypnotic beginning to an album that revels in pulling surprises out of its sonic toolbox, whether it's a baby with built-in auto-tune (“Baby,” with a hilarious Prince Zimboo assisting) or an elastic kazoo climbing and descending scales on “Pon de Floor” with VYBZ Kartel.

Yet Diplo & Switch are skillful enough to know when to shift gears and reign in some of their bolder instincts just when things may be getting overwhelming. “Cash Flow” builds a simple but effective dub track around Jahdan's vocals to create a thoughtful mood for his lyrics. Yet tempering their style leads Major Lazer down a few missteps as well. “Keep It Goin' Louder” sounds too basic compared to the rest of the album, leaning on auto-tuned vocals and some lazy writing for a passable club track. “What U Like” also sounds too familiar, although that's more due in credit to the rest of the album's relative creative edge.

Major Lazer doesn't completely fulfill the grand vision promised by its cover art, but even in its weaker moments it never fails to be an entertaining spectacle. Not only do Diplo & Switch prove themselves to be a production team on a rapid rise to the top, but they're an overall creative force with ambitious aims.

- Marty Caballero