CLASSIXX - Faraway Reach

Leading figures of the Los Angeles electro-disco scene, Michael David and Tyler Blake have earned critical acclaim thanks in part to numerous remixes for famous artists such as Mayer Hawthorne, Holy Ghost, Ladyhawke, Fischerspooner and Major Lazer.

The second album from their project Classixx doesn't disappoint, delivering a set of disco-pop tracks crafted with taste and no shortage of ideas.

Critics have described their music as a stylistic cross between Arthur Russell and Fleetwood Mac, a winning hybridization that the duo revisits here by surrounding themselves with capable guests and guest star.

Unfortunately "Faraway Reach" doesn't turn out to be the definitive statement for Classixx: despite a few small, delightful creations, the record as a whole never quite takes off, with many tracks not going beyond a pleasant deja-vu effect ("Grecian Summer"), while some collaborations slip into the predictable ("Safe Inside") or remain caught halfway between ecstasy and routine ("I Feel Numb").

The magic given off by "Just Let Go" (featuring How To Dress Well) is just one example of what David and Blake could offer as songwriters and sound alchemists. The foray into afrobeat on "Ndivile" also delivers a few thrills, but aside from some sonic touches on the title track, the rest slips into a bloodless attempt to reconcile lightness with class.

Classixx's second album has neither the energy of a rave party nor the laid-back flavor of a beach party. It's a sonic postcard missing not only the recipient's address but also a clear picture of where it's actually from.

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15/06/2016