A Track-By-Track Breakdown of Skrillex's "Recess"

Last night, it happened: Skrillex flipped the script on the EDM scene, giving fans a free preview of his long-awaited debut album Recess via the Alien

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Complex Original

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Last night, it happened: Skrillex flipped the script on the EDM scene, giving fans a free preview of his long-awaited debut album Recess via the Alien Ride app that he had just given away a few days prior. It felt like an event, and fans seem to be split on the project. Some of it feels like a return to form, while other bits feel like Skrillex has expounded on the experimentation that he's been hinting at over the last few years. With a fresh set of ears, ones that aren't continuously screaming "OMG! OMG!" and "WE WERE RIGHT!," DAD wanted to give you guys a track-by-track review of what's already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about albums of 2014. So fire up your Alien Ride apps, stream along, and check out our thoughts on Recess.

"All Is Fair In Love And Brostep" with Ragga Twins

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What a great way to kick off an album that’s debuted on an app entitled “Alien Ride.” Commentary about how much power a rocket would need to get propelled from the Earth, which immediately delves into the filthiest of dubstep? All about that. The tongue-in-cheek title fits in perfectly with Skrillex’s comments on the whole elitist dubstep vibe from his /r/Music Reddit AMA, and having the Ragga Twins toasting on this, their first Recess appearance, will have fans remembering "Make It Bun Dem."

"Recess" with Kill The Noise, Fatman Scoop and Michael Angelakos

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Fatman Scoop should be a fixture at every EDM festival after this one. Aligning with Skrillex and Kill The Noise on the upbeat funk of the album’s title track, you get a party starter that blends those leftfield melodies and fills with a hype(r) hip-hop vibe.

"Stranger" with KillaGraham and Sam Dew

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This is the tune that’s also featured on the Divergent soundtrack, and it’s an interesting trek. Alongside Milo & Otis’ KillaGraham and vocalist Sam Dew, Skrillex is starting to showcase the range of his sound on this one. The lowkey bop on the intro of this one gets you going, but it’s that subtle rumble after the drop that’ll have people going crazy. Something about that dirty twist that’s applied later on. This is a keeper, trust.

"Try It Out (Neon Mix)" with Alvin Risk

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You already know this one; it dropped via OWSLA in the latter half 2013, and is a slice of whatever you’d call the “Skrillex sound” of old. Tried and true, rave-rocking dubstep fury from Skrilly and Alvin Risk, a guy who we don’t hear nearly enough from.

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"Coast Is Clear" with Chance The Rapper and The Social Experiment

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“Coast Is Clear” is one of the true curveballs of the project. During his AMA, Skrillex said that he actually got to sample Chance The Rapper’s band, The Social Experiment, and it’s great to hear him turn this into a jungle tune. The inclusion of the horns at that pace bring a jazzy vibe that blends perfectly with Chance’s vocal styling. This is one of those spring puppy love tracks; something you’d play to shorty you’re trying to scoop who might be anxious about everyone knowing what you’re doing behind closed doors.

"Dirty Vibe" with Diplo, G-Dragon and CL

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“Dirty Vibe” was previously hinted at, and anything that features Skrillex, Diplo, and G-Dragon is going to be a lethal jam. And that it is. You have to appreciate the way this one rolls out; the emphasis truly is on the vibe created, and not the low-end or the impact of the drums. Everything is almost pushed to the back to make room for the “dirty vibe” throughout. And is it just us, or does CL sound a lot like Nicki Minaj?

"Ragga Bomb" with Ragga Twins

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The Ragga Twins are back; in a perfect world, we’d get an EP full of Skrillex / Ragga Twins tracks, but for now we’re content to have this “Ragga Bomb,” which does exactly what it says on the tin. The heavyweight dancehall vibe sticks around until it’s time to drop, where things get downright disgusting. Skrillex’s wall of sound is unfuckwittable when he wants to apply that pressure.

"Doompy Poomp"

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This is another track that you should be familiar with if you follow DAD on our investigative treks. This track was given away in 2013 as a promo for the Skrillex x MISHKA clothing line, and is the most fully-realized Aphex Twin send-up that we’ve heard from Skrillex so far, from the quirky funk of this undeniably bouncy beat to the distortions and fills thrown in this. This is pure ‘97 IDM at it’s zaniest.

"F That"

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Over the last few years, Skrillex has been adding more funk and bounce to his sounds; many attribute that to the vibes he’s getting from Boys Noize, but we have a feeling that he just gets off on grooves. On “Fuck That,” Skrillex gets his hands dirty in the bass-heavy house sounds that have been permeating over the last year or so (no one has stuck on a proper term, but we like AC Slater’s “night bass” title). This one has the biggest groove on Recess, and we have a feeling that a lot of DJs who weren’t throwing Skrillex tunes into their sets might be drawing for this one over the next month or so.

"Ease My Mind" with Niki & The Dove

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The Niki & The Dove-featured “Ease My Mind” is a surefire anthem. Those vocals don’t ask for anything more than huge festival speakers. Paired with a Middle Eastern-tinged melody in the drop, this one will have dubstep fans raising their arms in the air, hoping they can touch the sun in the middle of whatever festival they’re standing in.

"Fire Away" with Kid Harpoon

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“Fire Away” is the perfect way to end a project of this caliber. You need to end albums with tracks that sum up what’s gone on before it, and this track encapsulates all that is Recess. It has enough bounce, heart, and quirk to make it a true Skrillex track, but doesn’t need to succumb to whatever people feel a “Skrillex track” should sound like. A proper nightcap this long-awaited project.

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