Fans of
Kaskade’s early work for the chilled label Om might fall right out of their overstuffed chaise lounges because Dynasty reflects the glitzy label it lands on, Ultra, plus the house producer’s more recent work with
Deadmau5,
Lady Gaga, and
Britney Spears. If there’s a small complaint to be made, it’s that his style here isn’t as distinctive as it is when he plays it cool, but thrills don’t come much more fabulously than they do on “Fire in Your New Shoes” a new wave electro-fantasy with imitation
New Order guitar lines and vocals from the appropriately named
Dragonette. Add the dreamy trance collaboration with
Tiesto, “Only You,” plus the
David Guetta-like opener “Start Again,” and you’ve got the dancefloor-filling trilogy of key highlights with the bliss-inducing “To the Skies” and the pop-meets-microhouse “Call Out” bringing up a strong second line. This all-vocals affair could have been broken up with an instrumental or two, but Dynasty doesn’t seem to care much for the traditional album format, looking at it more as an opportunity to collect club hits, both potential and proven. On that level, it’s a slick success -- just don’t come here for the usual
Kaskade brand of taste and restraint. ~ David Jeffries